Spanish firm seeks investors to create energy from the tube

A Spanish company is seeking investors for a project which aims to create electricity from the wind generated in tube tunnels. Tunel Energy plans to install small turbines of around 10cm […]

A Spanish company is seeking investors for a project which aims to create electricity from the wind generated in tube tunnels.

Tunel Energy plans to install small turbines of around 10cm and ventilation systems in Madrid’s metro network which would generate power from the wind when the trains are running.

Francisco Martínez Bugarín, CEO of the firm, told ELN they aim to install around 100,000 turbines per kilometre.

They are expected to generate 250KW of electricity per day which will be used by Metro de Madrid to power its stations.

Mr Martínez added: “If there is excess energy, it can be used for street lighting or to power homes, it depends on the electricity demand of the stations.”

The company expects to raise between €600,000 (£456,000) to €1.2 million (£0.91m) from investors to develop the pilot project which could also be installed in national rail’s tunnels.

He went on: “Our aim is to offer a new way to generate flexible electricity which is easy to install. The wind generated in tube stations is a potential way to produce power 365 days of the year.”

In Chile, Santiago’s metro system is to be powered 60% by renewables.

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