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A Review of Clean Energy Exploitation for Railway Transportation Systems and Its Enlightenment to China

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  • Jing Teng

    (School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Longkai Li

    (School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Yajun Jiang

    (School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

  • Ruifeng Shi

    (School of Control and Computer Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China
    China Institute of Energy and Transportation Integrated Development, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China)

Abstract

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China’s rail system will become fully electrified by 2050. However, in some remote areas with a weak power grid connection, the promise of an electrified railway will be hard to achieve. By replacing conventional fuels with clean and environmentally-friendly energy, overall carbon emissions would be significantly reduced, contributing to the fulfillment of the carbon-neutral commitment. This study reviews clean energy exploitation in the railway transportation system and the distribution of renewable energy sources along the railway lines of China. The evaluation results show that China has huge energy potential. In terms of photovoltaics alone, the annual power generation of China’s high-speed railway is about 170 TWh, meaning that the energy self-consistency rate for high-speed railway can reach 284.84%. Efficient exploitation of clean energy sources for China’s railway transportation system would effectively mitigate anxieties surrounding energy shortages.

Suggested Citation

  • Jing Teng & Longkai Li & Yajun Jiang & Ruifeng Shi, 2022. "A Review of Clean Energy Exploitation for Railway Transportation Systems and Its Enlightenment to China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10740-:d:900546
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    Cited by:

    1. Ying Wang & Ya Guo & Xiaoqiang Chen & Yunpeng Zhang & Dong Jin & Jing Xie, 2023. "Research on the Energy Management Strategy of a Hybrid Energy Storage Type Railway Power Conditioner System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-16, August.
    2. Xuanwei Zhao & Jinsong Han, 2025. "How Is Transportation Sector Low-Carbon (TSLC) Research Developing After the Paris Agreement (PA)? A Decade Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-28, March.
    3. Ahsan, Nabeel & Hewage, Kasun & Razi, Faran & Hussain, Syed Asad & Sadiq, Rehan, 2023. "A critical review of sustainable rail technologies based on environmental, economic, social, and technical perspectives to achieve net zero emissions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    4. Ruifeng Shi & Li Ji & Han Liu & Zhe Zhang, 2025. "Sustainable Transition in Transport Energy Consumption: The Charging/Discharging Infrastructure and Self-Containing Transport Energy System of New Energy Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-4, February.
    5. Xian Huang & Wentong Ji & Xiaorong Ye & Zhangjie Feng, 2023. "Configuration Planning of Expressway Self-Consistent Energy System Based on Multi-Objective Chance-Constrained Programming," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-20, March.

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