UK first as wind turbines set up next to high speed trains to generate power

TechnologyEnvironment
6 May 2026 • 10:01 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

UK first as wind turbines set up next to high speed trains to generate power

  • LNER has installed three experimental wind turbines alongside the East Coast Main Line at Hitachi Rail’s Craigentinny depot in Edinburgh, marking a UK first.
  • Developed in partnership with clean energy firm Treeva, these turbines are designed to harness turbulent airflow generated by passing high-speed trains to produce electricity.
  • The six-foot-tall devices, named Windiana Jones, Sir Spins-a-lot, and AC Breezy, are made from upcycled materials and operate without a grid connection.
  • The trial aims to measure the energy output, with LNER stating a single turbine can power a third of a small station's lighting needs or four CCTV cameras.
  • This initiative, part of the Future Labs rail industry innovation scheme, could pave the way for a wider rollout across Britain's rail network, potentially reducing over 12,000 kilograms of CO2 annually.

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