UIC is pleased to announce the publication of a new document: “Methods of energy storage for railway systems – Guide for infrastructure managers on the implementation of new technologies of Energy Storage in railway stations”.
This new document, now available in the UIC Shop, has been conceived primarily for UIC members as a practical and strategic resource to support long-term infrastructure decisions.
Energy management is becoming central to railway performance. As networks integrate higher shares of renewable electricity and face increasing traffic density, infrastructure managers must address new challenges at the interface between traction systems and national power grids. The guide, which was developed under the Opt-In P 669 RESS/RSMES project in partnership with Comillas University, provides a structured methodology to navigate this complexity and to translate technological options into operational benefits.
The publication collates international expertise to help members assess how storage can be integrated into substations and stations, how regenerative braking energy can be valorised, and how energy flows can be optimised in coherence with timetables and service quality.
Beyond the theoretical framework, the project has also delivered a simulation and decision-support environment that allows infrastructure managers to compare scenarios in terms of investment, operating costs, carbon reduction and network resilience.
This tool is accessible through the IRS platform to all members, even without a MATLAB licence, reflecting UIC’s commitment to open and usable assets.
For the UIC community, this guide is more than a technical report. It offers a common language to engage with energy suppliers, regulators and system operators, and supports members in positioning railways as active partners of smart-grid and decarbonisation strategies. By pooling knowledge at international level, UIC enables each member to benefit from collective experience rather than leaving them to develop solutions in isolation.
Rail is already the most energy-efficient transport mode. With the integration of storage technologies, our systems can further reduce their carbon footprint, increase robustness and contribute to the stability of national electricity systems. This publication illustrates how UIC assets help transform innovation into concrete value for members and for society as a whole.
We warmly thank all experts and organisations involved in this work.
Members may contact us for any support in accessing the document.