EU member nation Belgium has launched an ambitious project to power 170 trains using wind energy -- and the first seven of the planned 25 turbines entered service on Saturday, local media reported on Sunday.
Turbines will be built along the main rail line from Leuven to Liege. Using the line, they would generate enough power for every high-speed and local train, Sudpresse newspaper group said.
The number of trains to be covered by the wind energy project represents about five percent of the country's total rail traffic, Belgian rail track operator Infrabel said.
Once all 25 turbines begin operating, they are expected to produce 35,000 megawatt hours, enough energy to power 10,000 homes. About two-thirds of the produced electricity would be utilised for the rail line and the surplus electricity would be added to the domestic supply grid, Belgian broadcaster RTL reported.
"Wind energy, like solar power, is intermittent, but it will play a more and more important role in our energy provision in the future", Philippe Van Troeye, production director at Belgian energy firm Electrabel, told reporters.
