On September 22, China’s first integrated “new energy + heavy-haul railway” power supply system — the Baoshen Railway’s coordinated power supply system integrating the “grid, generation, storage, and locomotives”, was officially completed and put into operation. This system successfully achieves deep integration of new energy power generation and railway power supply, offering a new solution for green electricity usage in rail transportation.
Northwest China boasts abundant sunlight, making it highly suitable for photovoltaic power generation. Meanwhile, rail transportation consumes a significant amount of electricity, accounting for about 2% of the society’s total electricity consumption. The Baoshen Railway Group has undertaken a new initiative to explore how to safely and stably utilize solar energy for railway operations.
According to reports, this system adopts a parallel power supply mode combining the traditional power grid with photovoltaic power generation. When trains are operating, electricity generated by the photovoltaic power generation system is intelligently regulated and fed into the railway’s power supply network. The system is also equipped with energy storage facilities. When solar power generation exceeds demand or during train braking, excess power can be stored and released during peak usage periods. This achieves “peak shaving and load leveling”, enhancing energy utilization efficiency.
Currently, Baoshen Railway has completed upgrades at six traction substations and one section post, establishing a coordinated power supply demonstration project covering 303 kilometers. The system enables functions such as integrating photovoltaic power generation into the railway grid, recycling and utilizing braking energy, and balancing electricity load.
After the project becomes operational, it is estimated that it will provide 7.4 million kWh of green electricity annually. This is equivalent to saving approximately 2,200 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 5,800 tonnes.
