story by Samantha WittchenInnovation” might not be the first word Philadelphians associate with SEPTA—two tokens sold in a plastic bag that says “Go Green” seems, um, not innovative—but that reputation deserves to change. SEPTA is piloting a cutting-edge regenerative braking project that saves energy and money, and positions Philadelphia as a global leader in public transportation sustainability.
This change couldn’t come at a better time. In August, Philadelphia will host the 2012 American Public Transportation Association’s “Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop.” As hundreds of the industry’s leading sustainability and environmental policy professionals descend on the city, SEPTA will showcase its progress on the Wayside Energy Storage System, a regenerative braking and energy storage system implemented at one of SEPTA’s electrical substations on the Market-Frankford Line.
The project began in 2010 when SEPTA announced a partnership with local power technology firm Viridity Energy. Backed by funding from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and the federal government, the pilot is set to reduce electrical usage at the substation by 10 percent. The project will conclude by the end of 2012.
Regenerative braking itself isn’t new. New York, Seattle, Portland and Los Angeles all currently employ this technology, and SEPTA uses it to power the lights and air conditioning on trains. What makes SEPTA’s pilot system innovative is its use of a large battery to store the electricity generated by braking trains. Viridity will monitor the battery using their software to determine whether it’s more cost-effective for SEPTA to use the energy for powering trains or to sell the energy back to the grid.
Here’s how regenerative braking works on SEPTA trains: Instead of using brake pads to create friction to slow the train, the braking mechanism puts the electric motor in reverse, turning it into an electric generator. The generator can then provide electricity to a variety of applications, like lights, air conditioning, other trains and storage devices (batteries). Any excess electricity that can’t be stored is sent to a resistor bank on top of the train car and converted to heat. In the SEPTA pilot project, electricity stored in the battery can then flow to the grid.
The technology’s scalability is what makes it so important and potentially transformative. There are more than two dozen substations where this technology could be replicated, explains Andy Gillespie, SEPTA’s chief engineer for power, which would fundamentally change the way SEPTA manages power for its subways and trolleys.
The project may also save SEPTA a good chunk of change. Between reducing electricity costs and revenue generated by selling electricity, they’re expecting a net annual benefit of $300,000. The savings will provide the capital to fund future projects at other substations, creating a positive loop of savings. The demonstration phase began on March 1, and the transit industry is closely watching this project to see if it can be a model for other transit systems throughout the country. The workshop in August will be a great opportunity to further the project (by attracting more federal transit dollars) and demonstrate Philadelphia’s growth as an innovative sustainability leader.
Now, if we could just talk to them about those tokens. – Samantha Wittchen
now that innovation at its best. Regenerating it own power. not much waste produced. very nice philly! thanks for this post. i wonder if they could do that to cars too?
now that innovation at its best. Regenerating it own power. not much waste produced. very nice philly! thanks for this post. i wonder if they could do that to cars too?
SEPTA’s chief engineer for power, which would fundamentally change the way SEPTA manages power for its subways and trolleys.http://empirecoachbuilder.wordpress.com/
SEPTA’s chief engineer for power, which would fundamentally change the way SEPTA manages power for its subways and trolleys.http://empirecoachbuilder.wordpress.com/
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid. In the context of the culture of Ancient Rome, the grid plan method of land measurement was called Centuriation. Thanks.
The grid plan, grid street plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid. In the context of the culture of Ancient Rome, the grid plan method of land measurement was called Centuriation. Thanks.
This post has helped me to have another perspective. I am discovering this topic for a business presentation of my organization. Your material provided me outstanding knowing of my topic.
This post has helped me to have another perspective. I am discovering this topic for a business presentation of my organization. Your material provided me outstanding knowing of my topic.
Good work here you have done.
Good work here you have done.
Cars are the stylish invention that we ever had so for this car to run long we must have to maintain this car and have to take care of it else we may face a lot no of problems. So, from my point of view we must prefer to maintain this car rather than facing so much no of problems. So, for maintaining this car we have to wash it in proper interval to maintain its style and also we have to repair this car from good repair centers whenever required to get better performance from it. .
Cars are the stylish invention that we ever had so for this car to run long we must have to maintain this car and have to take care of it else we may face a lot no of problems. So, from my point of view we must prefer to maintain this car rather than facing so much no of problems. So, for maintaining this car we have to wash it in proper interval to maintain its style and also we have to repair this car from good repair centers whenever required to get better performance from it. .
Thanks for sharing this useful information! Hope that you will continue with the kind of stuff you are doing.
Thanks for sharing this useful information! Hope that you will continue with the kind of stuff you are doing.
I was so fascinated by the display conducted there. There are a lot of individuals are certainly very lucky for they can appreciate the agreement and routine have been developed.
I was so fascinated by the display conducted there. There are a lot of individuals are certainly very lucky for they can appreciate the agreement and routine have been developed.
I trust this turns into a progressing challenge as the tour advances
I trust this turns into a progressing challenge as the tour advances
Noting, noting and noting, Yep, I’m going to start mine very soon. Thanks.
Noting, noting and noting, Yep, I’m going to start mine very soon. Thanks.
There was gathering of entrepreneurs in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. they focused on entrepreneurship want to promote in Muslim Majority Countries. Unfortunately there was shutdown in US and US president stop to signing this. But the interest of the government is to encourage policy makers and supporters for support this, want to do discuss on it today, Oct they are trying to help entrepreneurs themselves.
There was gathering of entrepreneurs in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia. they focused on entrepreneurship want to promote in Muslim Majority Countries. Unfortunately there was shutdown in US and US president stop to signing this. But the interest of the government is to encourage policy makers and supporters for support this, want to do discuss on it today, Oct they are trying to help entrepreneurs themselves.
These cars process by rotating further purposes such as groupies, electric mixers, spades also better. Magnetism moreover electromagnetic revolution are what fabricate electric cars execute.
These cars process by rotating further purposes such as groupies, electric mixers, spades also better. Magnetism moreover electromagnetic revolution are what fabricate electric cars execute.
Most of the new policy work could not get as much response but it can be work more freely if we response it.
Most of the new policy work could not get as much response but it can be work more freely if we response it.
Excellent and decent post. I found this much informative, as to what I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.
Excellent and decent post. I found this much informative, as to what I was exactly searching for. Thanks for such post and please keep it up.
It is not quite same bet anymore, especially now that the legal market has taken a hit and law school tuition is going up.
It is not quite same bet anymore, especially now that the legal market has taken a hit and law school tuition is going up.
Its our sole responsibility to make the environment green and pollution free. There are many vehicles which produce harmful smoke which pollutes the environment. So it is better to use environment friendly cars like electric cars, they do not produce smoke and hence does not give a negative impact on the environment.
Its our sole responsibility to make the environment green and pollution free. There are many vehicles which produce harmful smoke which pollutes the environment. So it is better to use environment friendly cars like electric cars, they do not produce smoke and hence does not give a negative impact on the environment.
This is a good magazine. I like to read this page. This is a good one. I am a regular visitor of this site.
This is a good magazine. I like to read this page. This is a good one. I am a regular visitor of this site.
if they could cap that gap as well (looks like around market street)… would be nice too…
if they could cap that gap as well (looks like around market street)… would be nice too…
A good guide for me. Thanks for sharing a wonderful ideas.
A good guide for me. Thanks for sharing a wonderful ideas.
Good post you have posted here keep it up.
Good post you have posted here keep it up.
excellent post your site is very useful and informatic i found your blog become very popular in internet keep sharing with us and me and my friends very excited to read your articles
excellent post your site is very useful and informatic i found your blog become very popular in internet keep sharing with us and me and my friends very excited to read your articles
Little ones appreciate a great tall tale. As opposed to parents who may have formulated with time, a mind safeguard in the event you will certainly, which doesn't obtain the same cracks hilarious. For kids, the top cracks tend to be one of the most most effective involving cracks or maybe the particular silliest involving cracks. There are a few which actually enjoy gross quotes and joke ! Although showing a child a hilarious tall tale is not many from the tall tale alone, including conducting a display. For more information and enjoy quotes and joke visit the site http://www.quotesandjoke.com/
Little ones appreciate a great tall tale. As opposed to parents who may have formulated with time, a mind safeguard in the event you will certainly, which doesn't obtain the same cracks hilarious. For kids, the top cracks tend to be one of the most most effective involving cracks or maybe the particular silliest involving cracks. There are a few which actually enjoy gross quotes and joke ! Although showing a child a hilarious tall tale is not many from the tall tale alone, including conducting a display. For more information and enjoy quotes and joke visit the site http://www.quotesandjoke.com/
The big event involving cricket sequence or events prepares cricket setting all around. Cricket is usually a online game involving excitement as well as enjoyment. Cricket buffs usually are full of enthusiasm while you're watching the overall game. Cricket turns into the favorite issue involving supporters to get discussed throughout a match the earth planet. When cricket setting accumulates, it truly is challenging regarding cricket admirer to have on the cricket fever. Cricket admirer strategies to various options to get linked with watching involving cricket.
The big event involving cricket sequence or events prepares cricket setting all around. Cricket is usually a online game involving excitement as well as enjoyment. Cricket buffs usually are full of enthusiasm while you're watching the overall game. Cricket turns into the favorite issue involving supporters to get discussed throughout a match the earth planet. When cricket setting accumulates, it truly is challenging regarding cricket admirer to have on the cricket fever. Cricket admirer strategies to various options to get linked with watching involving cricket.
hj
hj
nice
nice
I think the regenerative braking project is a great idea by SEPTA. I usually agree with people who try to make things greener and save energy. But I also think SEPTA’s ideas will have its flaws. Trying to fit all this technology to save energy could use up more energy with additional fuel and also mess with the technology that powers the transportation system. Other than the cons of SEPTA’s theories, I think they should go along with what they’re trying to produce to make Philadelphia cleaner and greener.
I think the regenerative braking project is a great idea by SEPTA. I usually agree with people who try to make things greener and save energy. But I also think SEPTA’s ideas will have its flaws. Trying to fit all this technology to save energy could use up more energy with additional fuel and also mess with the technology that powers the transportation system. Other than the cons of SEPTA’s theories, I think they should go along with what they’re trying to produce to make Philadelphia cleaner and greener.