QuickCheck: Do Dutch trains run on wind power?

MANY commuters use public transportation as their primary mode of travel.

Conventionally, trains (and locomotives) are fueled by diesel-electric or electricity, which may potentially jeopardise our air quality.

But is it true that the railways in the Netherlands are powered entirely by wind energy?

VERDICT:

TRUE

Yes, some nine years ago, railway operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen collaborated with energy corporation Eneco to incorporate sustainable energy into its service. As a result of this partnership, all-electric Dutch trains run on wind energy today.

This eco-friendly approach is part of the nation’s effort to create a greener future and combat fast-approaching climate change.

How does this work, you ask? Wind is first converted into kinetic energy; this kinetic energy is further converted into power, which generates electricity.

A single windmill can power a train for over 193km, allowing approximately 600,000 passengers to commute daily without any emissions.

According to several sources, this greatly reduces carbon emissions—caused by the use of natural gas and coal—and air pollution.

References:

1. https://www.thetechedvocate.org/every-dutch-train-now-runs-on-wind-power/
2. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/dutch-trains-wind-power#:~:text=Every%20electric%20train%20on%20the,all%20of%20its%20electric%20trains
3. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/10/dutch-trains-100-percent-wind-powered-ns