GRA
Well-known member
Via GCR: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1108346_all-dutch-electric-trains-now-running-on-100-percent-renewable-energy
. . . As of January 1, all electric passenger trains on the Dutch rail network have been run on wind energy, according to a statement from operator NS (via EcoWatch).
The 600,000 daily passengers trains are supplied with 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours of wind energy by Eneco per year, as part of an arrangement with NS first announced in 2015. . . .
Power from the rail network comes from wind farms not only in The Netherlands, but also Belgium and Scandinavia, according to Eneco. Sourcing power from multiple countries ensures that there is an adequate amount of electricity for the rail network's needs at all times, Eneco said in a statement.
The intermittent nature of many renewable-energy sources has led to some concern over what to do when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining. Energy-storage systems that use lithium-ion battery packs to store excess power for later use are one solution touted by renewable-energy proponents. The Netherlands currently has 2,200 operable wind turbines, with plans for a large new offshore wind farm as well. Renewable energy accounted for 4 percent of the country's generating capacity in 2014, but the Dutch government wants to raise it to 16 percent by 2023. . . .