Almost all metros and trams of Wiener Linien already possess the ability to recover the energy of movement (braking energy) as electric energy when braking the train, and to feed it back to the direct current power system. This energy can be used by a train in the nearest environment for acceleration. If there is no vehicle in the vicinity of the regenerative vehicle, the energy is converted into heat in the brake resistors of the train. The aim of the project is to test in a pilot system how to more efficiently use the accumulated energy from braking a metro train. By feeding the braking energy into the medium voltage grid, energy consumption should be reduced sustainably. The previously unused brake energy is intended to provide support to consumers in the subway stations (e.g., elevators, escalators). The pilot plant was installed on September 19, 2016.
