May 26, 2026
Challenge: Decarbonizing & electrifying the UK rail network
- Network Rail is one of the largest consumers of electricity in the UK, with over ~4TWh annually (~1.5 million homes)
- "Inflexible” power demand due to timetables
- Only 38% of routes are currently electrified
- Railway decarbonization entails an additional ~3TWh increase in demand
- 8.3TWh of wind generation was “constrained” in 2024, at a cost of ~£1bn
- New connection lead times are up to 15 years, and the process is heavily regulated
Potential Rail Energy Hub benefits
- Large-scale distributed storage reduces wind power curtailment
- Use traction power line as a conduit to deliver services to the power grid
- Support both rail network and power grid
- Prospect of co-ordinated control of hubs
- Facilitate battery train (BEMU) charging for discontinuous electrification
Solution: Trackside microgrids
- Integrate Renewable Energy Resources
- Battery Storage & Energy Management
- Power Electronics & Switchgear
- Control & Communications
- Lifecycle Services & Remote Support
Pilot project: Ayr Townhead Depot
- Ofgem SIF Beta Phase innovation project
- Collaboration between SP Energy Networks, Network Rail, Ricardo, the University of Leeds & GE Vernova
- Pilot project testing rail hub technology in the UK for the first time
- Integration of local battery energy storage into the 25kV traction network
- GE Vernova selected as key equipment supplier
Pilot innovations
- The microgrid solution will employ GE Vernova’s Low Voltage LV3DC Modular Converter System, integrating local battery energy storage into the 25kV traction network at Network Rail Scotland’s Ayr Townhead Depot for the first time in the UK.
- Through application of the LV3DC Modular Converter System and Energy Management Systems (EMS) a 2MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) will be deployed to feed into the 25kV OLE traction network and receive regenerative power.
