In a first of its kind innovation in a public transportation system, the city of Antwerp is going to house the first solar-powered railway tunnel in Europe. Aimed at creating a model in the use of technology, this railway tunnel is expected to save 47.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the next couple of decades!
Built on the link between Paris and Amsterdam, this tunnel will be powered by 50,000 solar panels, costing a total of £12.6 million to the country’s government, and occupying a total space equal to 8 football pitches, apart from the trains running alongside at a blistering speed of 186 mph! Apart from powering the railway tunnel itself these solar panels will also cater to the energy requirements of Antwerp. Estimated to generate close to 3300 MWh of electricity per year or the equivalent of energy requirements of 950 families, the carbon foot-print of the area is stated to be reduced significantly. These eco-friendly panels have been built by the Belgian energy major Efinity which is known for its technological expertise in this area.
Parallel projects in the European Union include one in Italy funded by the government and one in France on the railway line in Poitou Charentes. Conceptualized on the similar lines, these other projects only cater to running the railways’ air-conditioning systems unlike Antwerp, which will operate on full capacity from solar power. With the increasing demand for quick travel, and keeping in mind the delicate state of ecological balance, these projects are the way forward to reducing carbon footprint and a feasible pathway in the area of sustainable development. However, what remains to be seen is the speed at which these projects are replicated by industrial nations and the sustainability in economic terms.
Via: Telegraph
