Future Labs - Rail Industry Energy Resilience

The rail industry is calling on the UK’s brightest minds to help shape the future of transport, inviting creators, problem-solvers and disruptors from every corner of the country to help improve sustainability, safety and accessibility across Britain’s rail network. Through Future Labs, the public ownership flagship innovation programme, Britain’s train operators are seeking pioneering solutions to four of rail’s toughest challenges.

DFTO train operators have environmental and sustainability targets, whether that is for their overall carbon emissions, or specific to certain parts of their operations. In stations, we want to meet targets such as the creation of net zero stations.

Severe weather events are occurring more frequently and are already impacting our operations. There is a risk that such events may impact our ability to provide a safe and operational environments for our customers and people in the future.

We also know that energy generation comes from a variety of sources, and not all are renewable (low carbon intensive). As a consumer of electricity, DFTO operators cannot stipulate exactly where our electricity comes from, and the balance of power sources is very weather dependent.

Although we may have purchased green energy financially, this does not mean that we are actually consuming green energy (this is a financial arrangement only). Energy production and transmission is based on regional generation and whole network loading, which is managed entirely by National Grid.

There are current plans to install battery storage within some stations to store greener energy, either from onsite generation, or from when the local grid is providing low carbon intensity energy. When it comes to energy resilience, Future Labs is seeking new ways to generate, store and manage clean energy directly on-site.

Innovators are encouraged to explore how battery systems, solar power or novel technologies could help stations become self-sufficient, resilient and low carbon, even in the face of disruption. Train Operating Companies (TOCs) in scope: •LNER, •TransPennine Express, Northern Trains, •Southeastern, •South Western Railway, •c2c •West Midlands Railway •London Northwestern Railway and •Greater Anglia. Objectives of the engagement The contracting authority wishes to engage with the market to: •Understand market capability and capacity •Explore potential delivery models and commercial approaches •Inform the scope, structure and procurement strategy of any future process