Energy and Emissions Saving in Urban Guided Transport Systems: Effectiveness and Assessment of Hydrogen-Based Solutions

Global warming and climate change are indisputable facts. Since the Industrial Revolution, the mean temperature of the planet has increased by 1 °C. Now, temperatures are approaching a higher stage of +1.5 °C, and the attention is on both CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Transportation is a significant component of the environmental impact, accounting for approximately 30% of air pollution and energy consumption. Due to the rapid urbanization in the EU, with an estimated 74.3% of the population living in cities, which is forecasted to rise to 80% by 2050, urban mobility is dramatically increasing its relevance. Therefore, a reduction in energy consumption and pollutant emissions is a crucial factor to consider in the development of urban transportation and particularly rail-based systems to provide energysaving transport services by improving the urban environment. Several methods and techniques are under development to improve the energy performance of Light Rail Transport (LRT), which spread from different typologies of power supply to improve energy efficiency. This paper aims to start with the latest developments and innovative energy sources for LRT systems. The focus is on two parts: (a) trams running on hydrogen in parallel with onboard batteries with energy-saving control techniques, (b) potential renewable energy sources to meet the demand power. The comparison is with traditional power sources and equipment (e.g., catenary-based). The development of the methods, based on selected indicators, is ongoing, and the paper describes results of calculations and simulations for a relevant case study: the new tramline in the city of Brescia (Italy).