Power exchange to become more economical
Siemens is facilitating the efficient flow of energy between the power network of an electric railway system and the public power grid. The company is delivering 11 gateway power converters to Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. In these countries, and many others, the rail system operates its own power plants and a private electrical grid that is connected to the public grid at certain points. As the amount of renewable energy increases, these connection points are becoming more important. For example, the rail system in Sweden has plans for eight new converters that will provide access to hydroelectric power from the public grid beginning in mid 2015. In Austria, a new converter will allow the rail system to feed excess electricity generated by its own hydroelectric plants to the public power grid more efficiently starting in 2014. The new converter will also connect the planned Tauernmoos hydroelectric plant with the railway...