All Dutch electric trains now running on 100-percent renewable energy

. . . As of January 1, all electric passenger trains on the Dutch rail network have been run on wind energy, according to a statement from operator NS (via EcoWatch).

The 600,000 daily passengers trains are supplied with 1.2 billion kilowatt-hours of wind energy by Eneco per year, as part of an arrangement with NS first announced in 2015. . . .

Power from the rail network comes from wind farms not only in The Netherlands, but also Belgium and Scandinavia, according to Eneco. Sourcing power from multiple countries ensures that there is an adequate amount of electricity for the rail network's needs at all times, Eneco said in a statement.

The intermittent nature of many renewable-energy sources has led to some concern over what to do when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining. Energy-storage systems that use lithium-ion battery packs to store excess power for later use are one solution touted by renewable-energy proponents. The Netherlands currently has 2,200 operable wind turbines, with plans for a large new offshore wind farm as well. Renewable energy accounted for 4 percent of the country's generating capacity in 2014, but the Dutch government wants to raise it to 16 percent by 2023. . . .

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sendler2112 said:

Amazing technology how the trains can pick out from the grid just the electrons that are part of the 4% produced by renewables and leave all the other electricity untouched.
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"Renewable energy accounted for 4 percent of the country's generating capacity in 2014, but the Dutch government wants to raise it to 16 percent by 2023.

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LTLFTcomposite said:

sendler2112 said:

Amazing technology how the trains can pick out from the grid just the electrons that are part of the 4% produced by renewables and leave all the other electricity untouched.
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"Renewable energy accounted for 4 percent of the country's generating capacity in 2014, but the Dutch government wants to raise it to 16 percent by 2023.

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Lol, my thoughts exactly. Everything else runs on coal?
Also what time period is that averaged over? Is the enough generation from renewables 24x7 to keep the trains running or do they have to "borrow" at times?

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The intermittent nature of many renewable-energy sources has led to some concern over what to do when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining.

Energy-storage systems that use lithium-ion battery packs to store excess power for later use are one solution touted by renewable-energy proponents.

Click to expand...

LTLFTcomposite said:

Actually it wasn't

The intermittent nature of many renewable-energy sources has led to some concern over what to do when the wind isn't blowing or the sun isn't shining.

Energy-storage systems that use lithium-ion battery packs to store excess power for later use are one solution touted by renewable-energy proponents.

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There is a fair amount of daylight between something being touted by proponents and it being implemented.

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