Energy Harvesting from Railway Tracks: Technologies and Applications

Research on the creative use of kinetic energy in transport infrastructures has been directed by the constant search for sustainable energy solutions. Of them, railway tracks provide a particularly attractive pathway for energy collecting because of their vast network and the significant stresses applied during train movements. The latest technologies created for energy harvesting from railway tracks are explained in this article along with the workings, concepts, and efficiency of the different systems. The ability to transform mechanical stress and vibrations into electrical energy is closely examined in hybrid systems, electromagnetic devices, and piezoelectric transducers. A thorough analysis of the literature highlights both the technical developments and the difficulties, including those related to energy storage, affordability, and durability. In addition, this research investigates the uses of captured energy, which may improve the sustainability of railway systems by powering trackside sensors or adding to the grid. The appropriateness and efficacy of various harvesting systems under various operating circumstances may be inferred from a comparative study of their performance indicators. In order to fully use this renewable energy source, the report concludes by outlining future research areas and highlighting the integration of energy collecting technology with smart railway infrastructure.