Increased energy costs are anything but electrifying Heritage lines look at how to mitigate electricity costs – including solar panels.
THE spiralling cost of electricity and gas is among the latest headwinds hitting Britain’s heritage rail sector – but several lines are pulling out all the stops to implement measures to mitigate their exposure to this latest unwelcome expense.
Faced with the prospect of its annual electricity bill trebling, the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway (EABSR) is planning to install solar panels on the roofs of its rolling stock storage and maintenance buildings. It has been working with green energy contractor Squirrel Energy.
Rob Shaw, EABSR chairman told The RM: “We looked at solar panels about 18 months ago. However, the energy crisis has made it all the more urgent.
Our electricity bill is currently £30,000 per annum – but in a worst case scenario we are looking at £60,000 to £90,00 a year.
“Solar panels will cost circa £300,000, plus £80,000 to upgrade the local electricity network infrastructure.
“It is a gamechanger. The difference installing panels could make to our bottom line over 25 years is about £2.7 million – which could be higher if our bills increase further. The greatest risk is doing nothing. We are fortunate to have a lot of roof space on which to install solar panels.”
In terms of finance, Mr Shaw said: “We have worked hard to ensure we are now debt-free. We have record revenues, but we are spending it on maintaining our infrastructure, including rolling stock and track. We do not have spare funds for solar panels, so we have approached our members and supporters for loans to make us more sustainable for the future and to stop us haemorrhaging money on electricity bills.”
By mid-September, the railway had in place funding for 90% of the scheme, by way of donations and loans. The final 10% was expected to be transferred by the end of the month.
Analysis
Meanwhile, at a recent meeting the Board of the Bluebell
Railway plc – supported by the Preservation Society – directors approved a project to install solar panels on the roofs of the loco workshop and the workshop facility at Sheffield Park station.
In the spring of last year, a feasibility study into the use of solar power was carried out using money from a Government Covid Recovery Fund grant.
A team has been appointed to reduce electricity and gas consumption. A railway spokesman said: “At that time, based on what we were paying for electricity, the time to recover the cost of an installation was estimated at six to eight years. Since February and the dramatic increase in the cost of energy, that payback period has come down to less than three years.
“The installation will be paid for using part of the Covid Business Interruption Loan or CBIL offered by the Government, of which the railway took advantage. These loans were specifically for businesses to invest in cost reduction and maintain their viability.”
Ideally, solar panels would face south, but being a railway which runs north to south this is not possible as all suitable workshop and shed roofs face east west. If this project is successful, further installations elsewhere on the railway which do not impact on the line’s heritage appearance will be considered.
The spokesman added: “At peak time, which is daytime Monday to Friday we are paying more than 1p a minute per kilowatt hour or over 60p for that kilowatt hour. This is set to increase. Across the whole railway we are paying £750 per day for electricity – in summer! That is equivalent to fares paid by the first 20 to 30 visitors who enter our stations. Therefore, it is in our interest to save electricity wherever we can.
“We are doing what we can by the application of energy efficient lighting, time switches etc, but it is not enough. Even at peak generation, our solar power installation will provide less than a quarter of our peak demand for electrical power. To misquote that government phrase from 2020, ‘Save Power, Switch Off, Save the Bluebell Railway’.”
Another line looking at measures to deal with the cost of electricity is the Great Central Railway. Richard Patching, GCR chairman and interim general manager said: “As for every other business, the ongoing electricity cost will be some 3.5 times our current tariff – it is eye-watering stuff!
Awareness
“A most significant step at GCR has been the preparation by one of our volunteers of a detailed report analysing our electricity usage across our railway. It extends to 21 pages and includes actions, many of which may be regarded as being capable of being implemented in the short-term, while others would require more detailed investigation and up-front investment.”
Mr Patching said a programme of education is underway – reminding staff and volunteers that it is everyone’s responsibility to minimise any electricity usage within their control.
“For example, do not fill the kettle when making one cup of tea; shut doors to keep heat in; and only switch on lights that you need to see the task you are undertaking,” he added.
Other measures include maximising the use of LEDs for lighting, automatic closers on doors, replacing old inefficient appliances such as fridges and installing motion sensors on lighting in larger areas so lighting at low level until movement is detected, then to full brightness.