Solar powered tunnel opens

Today saw the first trains run through the Belgian high speed rail tunnel, which has been fitted with 16,000 solar panels on its roof equating to 3.4 kilometres. The ‘Solar Tunnel’ project, backed by Enfinity is so far unique and is the only project to generate green energy from railway infrastructure.

The installation should generate an estimated 3.3 GWh of electricity per year, equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of nearly 1,000 homes, and decrease CO2 emissions by 2,400 tons per year. The electricity produced by the panels will be equivalent to that needed to power all the trains in Belgium for one day per year, and will also help power Antwerp station.

"For train operators, it is the perfect way to cut their carbon footprints because you can use spaces that have no other economic value and the projects can be delivered within a year because they don't attract the protests that wind power does," said Bart Van Renterghem, UK head of Belgian renewable energy company Enfinity, which installed the panels.

The project cost €14 million and other countries have found the cost prohibitive, however ‘Solar Tunnel’ hopes to pave the way for many more projects of this nature.

Published: Tuesday, 7th June 2011 by Adelle Kehoe