Researchers at The University of Manchester are developing vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) that capture airflow generated by trains moving through tunnels, and using it to generate electricity.
The work is being done by a team from the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and industry partner Q-Sustain Limited. The project, which begins with the Transpennine Route Upgrade project, will explore how this energy source can be integrated into transport infrastructure.
The project being funded under EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) is developing a bespoke techno-economic analysis toolkit, VerXis, to evaluate the performance and commercial viability of the designs. Azhar Quaiyoom, Director of industrial partner Q-Sustain Limited, added: “What excites us most about VerXis is its ability to rapidly test and scale turbine designs tailored to each tunnel environment. This toolkit enables smarter, data-driven decisions, helping us deploy sustainable solutions in railway infrastructure that align with the UK’s net-zero ambitions and calculates the return on investment for our clients”
The next stage will see prototype turbines tested in real-world tunnel environments, alongside further development of the VerXis toolkit, with the ambition of influencing future rail energy standards.
If successful, the approach could be applied not only to rail but also to other transport networks.