Posts tagged sustainability
CO2 Barometer
In this PhD project by Marko Kapetanović, an integrated model for dynamic monitoring and prediction of CO2 emissions of regional railway services is developed, following a life-cycle approach. The project is performed in close cooperation with Arriva, the largest regional railway undertaking in the Netherlands. Possibilities and measures to improve the energy efficiency of railway operation and to reduce the total emissions on the network are identified and assessed, including alternative propulsion systems such as hybrid, plug-in hybrid, fuel cell-electric and battery electric, together with a range of energy carriers. Analyzed fuels and energy carriers include LNG, first and second generation biofuels, hydrogen and electricity, with examined various alternative production pathways. Check the main output of this project below.
Short video explaining the project and main results
Korte video over het project en resultaten (in Dutch)
Doctoral Thesis
Improving Environmental Sustainability of Regional Railway Services (TU Delft, 2023)
Papers
Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of traction alternatives for regional railways (Energy Conversion and Management 2024)
Energy model of a fuel cell hybrid-electric regional train in passenger transport service and vehicle-to-grid applications (Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management 2023)
Life Cycle Assessment of Alternative Traction Options for Non Electrified Regional
Railway Lines (World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) 2022)
Optimal network electrification plan for operation of battery electric multiple unit regional trains (TRISTAN XI 2022)
Analysis of hydrogen powered propulsion system alternatives for diesel electric
regional trains (Journal of Rail Transport Planning & Management 2022)
Reducing fuel consumption and related emissions through optimal sizing of energy storage systems for diesel-electric trains (Applied Energy 2021)
Analysis of Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Alternative Propulsion Systems for Regional Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit Trains (Energies 2021)
Sustainability of Railway Passenger Services: A Review of Aspects, Issues, Contributions and Challenges of Life Cycle Emissions ( RailNorrköping 2019)
Presentations
Assessment of Alternative Traction Options for Non Electrified Regional
Railway Lines (World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) 2022)
Optimal network electrification plan for operation of battery electric multiple unit regional trains (TRISTAN XI 2022)
Improving Sustainability of Regional Railway Services in the Netherlands (Rail Infra Forum, RailTech 2023)
Vehicle-to-Grid Concept for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid-Electric Regional Trains (RailBelgrade 2023)
Other
How can railways phase out diesel from their operations? (RailTech Digital Magazine | Sustainable Rolling Stock)
Reducing rail emissions: Shifting to diesel alternatives (Webinar, RailTech 2022)
Improving Environmental Sustainability of Regional Railway Services in the Netherlands (Rail Infra Forum, RailTech 2023)
The wider benefits of high quality public transport for cities
The true value of public transport is often underestimated systematically while assessing transit impacts of proposed projects. During the planning and assessment of new or improved connections, infrastructure or services, often only the costs of operations, construction and the revenues with regard to fares and travel time savings are accounted for. This approach provides insights into the performance of public transport to some extent, but disregards many other (positive) effects the provision of public services has. Many of which impose an advantage over competing modes of transport. This could result in the postponement or even cancellation of plans, as means are scarce and invested where gains are directly visible. Thus, to enable a fairer assessment of public transport plans, more insight is required into the wider benefits of its operations and impacts on passengers and the environment.
To gain these insights, we developed a methodology to quantify the value of public transport using the five E’s: Effective mobility, Efficient city, Economy, Environment and Equity. Together these aspects provide a better indication of all potential benefits of public transport.
Read more in this ETC 2017 conference paper.
