Advanced Wayside Energy Storage Systems for Rail Transit

This Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) project explored the use of wayside energy storage systems (WESS) in rail transit systems. The analysis monetized economic and technical benefits for transit agencies but also considered other stakeholders. The costs and benefits of various applications were modeled through hypothetical simulations as well as case studies using real data from participating transit agencies: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and Denver Regional Transportation District. Six different WESS technologies were modeled including: flywheels, ultracapacitors, and lead acid, sodium sulfur, lithium ion, and zinc bromide batteries. The cost, benefit, and net present value (NPV) were calculated for seven simulations for a hypothetical transit system and for two case studies. Several key findings are summarized. First, combining applications provides benefits that result in the most attractive NPV. Second, applications that solve a technical problem, such as to address a power quality or reliability issue, may be attractive to a transit agency even if the NPV is not positive. The important consideration is whether WESS is less expensive than the alternative technology. Third, the results for each of the applications could be improved with a reduction in WESS capital cost, which is expected for most technologies over the next few years as they become commercially available and are produced in larger quantities. Fourth, the financial value proposition for WESS would be improved by federal capital grants or other incentives. This project analyzed the value of WESS as an investment made solely by the transit agency without capital funds from other sources. Fifth, this analysis considered the business case for a transit agency and therefore monetized on the benefits that accrue to the transit agency. However, if a societal perspective had been modeled and other benefits were monetized, WESS would likely be much more attractive in these applications.

  • Record URL:
  • Supplemental Notes:
    • This Transit IDEA project was conducted by Navigant Consulting, Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
  • Authors:
    • Lamontagne, Colette
  • Publication Date: 2013-4

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Edition: Final Report
  • Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
  • Pagination: 84p
  • Serial:
  • Publication flags:

    Open Access (libre)

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01503534
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Report/Paper Numbers: Transit IDEA Project 66
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Jan 9 2014 1:17PM