Storage Operation in Tramway Systems Delivering Grid Services

Nowadays tramway systems are more and more appreciated for their ability to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions with respect to road transportation. Tramway systems may be significantly enhanced by the progressive introduction of new advanced technical solutions: use of storage systems to maximise braking energy recovery, integration of photovoltaic generation source, and substitution of non-reversible electrical substations with bidirectional converters, to provide grid services. Starting from the results obtained with a simulation tool developed and validated by the University of Pisa, this paper investigates with a systematic approach all the above mentioned opportunities.