Solar -powered Green Train

In Belgium was inaugurated the first solar-powered green train

 by MadalinaE  on March 20th, 2014 – 

The first high-speed train only solar powered belonging to National Railway Company of Belgium, made his first trip in those days, the Paris-Amsterdam trip a success.
The train is powered by solar energy captured by a special tunnel, 3.6 km long, with the roof or 16,000 solar panels covering an area of ​​about 50,000 square meters says Belgian reliable sources. The energy collected is used to facilitate the smooth functioning of the entire infrastructure of the line, in the area. 

Conventional trains and they can move on that section. Solar panels mounted on the tunnel can produce 3.5 GW of electricity per year, corresponding annual average consumption of electricity for about 1,000 households in Belgium.
The cost of the entire project, called "Enfinity" amounted to the fabulous sum of 15.6 million euros.

High-speed international trains linking Paris and Amsterdam set off this week powered by electricity from a ground-breaking solar tunnel. The 2.2mile long tunnel crossing Antwerp in Belgium is fitted with 16,000 solar panels covering 50,000 square metres, roughly eight football pitches.

The panels produce 3.3MWh of electricity a year, which will be enough to power 4,000 trains.

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Green energy: 16,000 solar panels line the tunnel in Antwerp, Belgium

Enfinity, the U.S based company which developed the project, said it would decrease CO2 emissions by 2,400 tons per year. 

'By using electricity generated on-site, we eliminate energy losses and transport costs,' said Steven De Tollenaere from Enfinity.

The first 'green train' left Antwerp on Monday for the Dutch border, filled with the usual commuters and students.Most were unaware that for the first dozen miles or so, the train's engines were plugged into the solar energy source fitted along the line.

The electricity produced feeds into the line's infrastructure, for lighting, signals and in-train power points, said Frederic Sacre, spokesman for Infrabel, which runs the rail network.

The company hopes the project, which cost £12m, will be extended to the U.S. However, there are no plans to introduce the solar infrastructure in the UK as recent cuts to financial incentives have made such projects unviable.