Solar Electric

This conversion of an old Aussie DMU to solar generated electric propulsion popped up on the 'Fully Charged' YouTube channel today.
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...fVI7vKs4/RK=2/RS=IiE4nnwnWdUcn6BEMReIJVaHB.4-

It looks more 'proof of concept' than mainstream, for now at least .... and I'm not too sure we'll see this tech operating the Conway Valley line any time soon .... but something along these lines could well be useful in environmentally sensitive (and sunny) or remote (and sunny) locations. As always, with renewables, the question of reliably storing sufficient energy to recharge onboard batteries will dictate any commercial application.

 

Looks very interesting, could be useful for short, self contained shuttle journeys such as Cardiff Bay to Queen St, or the Stourbridge branch. Boats would be more useful for Conwy Valley at the moment!

 

Conway Valley Rail Replacement service?

(OK .... it's closer to Bala! Image from dioni.co.uk)

Solar is, of course, merely one string in the bow. The 'renewables thing' needs to be seen as a whole, after all, who asks too much about what it takes, by way of infrastructure, to get a litre of petrol into their tank, or what lies the other side of their electricity meter? The 'smart grid' needed to make all this carbon-neutral gee-whizzery work represents as big a change as getting the existing grid up and running in the first place. Problem or opportunity?

 

Kryten looks different....

 

South tyndale railway, have a battery loco charged by the panels on the station roof. Rather ingenious I thought.