- China launched its first railway powered by solar and grid electricity with energy storage for excess and braking energy.
- The project will generate 7.4 million kWh of green power and cut 5,800 tonnes of CO₂ yearly, advancing transport–energy integration.
China has launched its first railway project integrating renewable energy, marking a significant step toward cleaner and more efficient transport infrastructure.
The 303-kilometre demonstration route, part of the 1,000-km Baoshen Railway linking Shenmu in Shaanxi province to Baotou in Inner Mongolia, carries heavy freight from the country’s largest coalfield, the Shenfu-Dongsheng coalfield.
According to operator CHN Energy, the line’s Liujiagou substation, equipped with a 6-megawatt solar power system, supplies renewable electricity to the railway’s power network. State media reported that the system stores excess power from solar generation and train braking for use during peak demand.
CHN Energy said the project demonstrates how renewable integration can support high-load transport systems while reducing the carbon footprint of China’s vast rail network.
China’s rail transit system is the world’s largest, accounting for about 2% of the nation’s electricity use. By the end of 2024, the country had 162,000 km of operational railways, nearly 76% of which were electrified, according to Caixin.
The initiative follows a March government directive promoting the joint development of transportation and energy systems. The directive urged authorities to advance railway electrification and adopt new clean power models.