Natalie Rees, Transport for Wales Ideas for cutting energy bills and switching to more sustainable power were exchanged at Insider’s Energy in Your Hands online forum.
The discussion, now available online, brought together utility and transport leaders and a funding expert to discuss their experiences and plans.
Now is a great time to innovate and try new approaches, according to Natalie Rees, sustainable development manager at train and station operator Transport for Wales.
She said: “We are undertaking a feasibility study to see if we can generate the energy locally through trackside renewables. We think we can generate around 38 per cent of the renewables locally to the railway lines.
“And we are looking at like thin film solar panels for the tops of our waiting shelters.”
Ben Burggraaf, head of energy efficiency at Dr Cymru Welsh Water, said: “We have been given another £20m to invest in energy efficiency, to reduce further our energy consumption. We plan to reduce that by 3 per cent (whereas) historically we have been using more and more power.”
Gas pipe operator Wales & West Utilities is focused on getting to net zero carbon, according to energy strategy director Chris Clarke. He said: “We are investing heavily in the network itself, to make it ready for the future – particularly for future gases such as more biomethane, hydrogen blends, and not too far in the distant future, we think full hydrogen as well.”
Snowdon Mountain Railway has replaced two of its diesel locomotives with hybrid versions, and plans to replace more. Senior engineering manager Mike Robertshaw said: “Typically, in a peak season, a diesel locomotive will have used about 120 litres of fuel per day. These new locomotives are using 25 litres per day for the same cycle.”
Liam Gillard, programme manager for Wales at Salix Finance, which provides funding to the public sector for energy efficient technology, said: “LED technology has matured now. It is a quick and easy way to improve the lighting of buildings. And you have to look at insulation, because that is really going to be beneficial if you are bringing in hybrid heating systems.”
You can view the discussion online now. And the key points will be published in the December 2020 edition of Wales Business Insider magazine – please click here to find out about subscribing.