Every day, the renewable energy are playing a more important role in the fight against climate change and the reduction of polluting emissions. However, the focus is not only on the generation of electricity, but on its application to transport. From electric cars to trains, buses and ships, technological advancement opens up new opportunities to integrate clean energies into different modes of transport. In this article, we will explore how these innovations are changing global transport.
Solar energy is cheaper and more efficient than ever
Continuous improvements in solar technology have allowed the solar energy has become significantly cheaper and more efficient. This is key to electrifying areas and means of transport that previously could not benefit from renewable energy. A clear example is the solar boat project tapiatpia, which sails between Ecuador and Peru using solar energy for its journeys of more than 1.800 km in 25 days. This ship not only reduces dependence on fossil fuels, but also preserves the environment.
Global trend of solar trains
The solar trains Solar trains are emerging in various parts of the world as a sustainable option for rail transport. In India, the government has developed projects that allow some trains to operate on solar energy, which has managed to reduce the consumption of more than 21.000 liters of diesel per year per train. In England, the project led by Imperial College London is promoting solar trains on railway lines. These initiatives show that the application of renewable energy in mass passenger transport is not only viable, but also economically advantageous.
Solar energy in road transport
In addition to electric cars, road transport is also beginning to benefit from innovations such as solar roads. These infrastructures not only generate electricity to power road lighting, but in the future they could even recharge the vehicles that drive on them. Although they are still in the testing phase in some countries, solar roads could revolutionise the way we recharge electric vehicles.
The electric bus revolution and its expansion
Electric bus fleets are becoming more common in European and Asian cities, and represent an effective solution to reduce emissions and noise pollution in urban centres. In addition to being more energy efficient, some of these buses are also combining renewable energies such as biomethane, used in specific buses in cities such as Zaragoza. Other buses, completely electric like those of irize, operate with a range of up to 250 km per charge, allowing for a full day of driving without the need for intermediate recharges.
Maritime transport and renewable energy
Significant innovations are taking place in the maritime sector, which is one of the largest consumers of fossil fuels. In addition to the solar boat Tapiatpia, ships in Europe and Asia are incorporating solar and wind power to reduce their carbon footprint. Some ferries in Norway, such as the 'Ampere', use electric batteries charged with renewable energy, which has demonstrated significant savings in operating costs and reduced emissions.
Electromobility: infrastructure and advances in storage
Electric vehicles are not only a market trend, but their mass adoption is driving the development of a charging infrastructure based on renewable energy. lithium batteries Advanced electric buses are increasingly offering greater storage capacities, allowing some electric buses in Latin America and Europe to achieve ranges of up to 300 km per charge. The increase in charging infrastructure and the use of artificial intelligence to manage charging and discharging energy is facilitating more efficient and less polluting transport.
Success stories: pioneering cities in the use of renewable energy in transport
Some cities have taken the lead in implementing renewable energy in their transport infrastructure. In Norway, more than 60% of urban bus fleets in cities like Oslo are now powered by biomethane or electricity. In Reykjavik, harnessing geothermal energy has enabled 50% of buses to use renewable energy. Meanwhile, Vancouver continues to implement an ambitious plan to achieve 100% of its transport using clean energy by 2030.
Challenges and opportunities in the transition
Despite progress, there are still challenges to be faced in implementing renewable energy in transport. For example, retrofitting existing infrastructure is often costly and requires planning to prevent the process from causing significant disruption to services. However, the technological opportunity is clear: with the support of intelligent traffic management systems, electric transport can offer greater efficiency.
Over time, the implementation of sustainable transport systems will not only reduce the carbon footprint in cities, but will also enable a cleaner, quieter and healthier environment for all inhabitants.