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A project to electrify train lines in Wales using community-owned renewable energy and storage technologies has been awarded a grant worth £110,000, after winning the Rail Safety and Standards Board's 'Intelligent Power Solutions to Decarbonise Rail' competition.

The Green Valley Lines initiative - led by climate charity 10:10 in partnership with Community Energy South's social enterprise Riding Sunbeams - will explore plans for the smart electrification of commuter lines to and from Cardiff.

Working with Network Rail, the Energy Saving Trust, and engineering consultancy Ricardo, the project will identify potential sites to install community-owned solar, wind or hydroelectric generators next to railway lines in the region. These units would then directly supply the lines with low-carbon electricity, whilst in turn providing financial benefits to local communities, who would own them.

The study will also scope technical solutions for directly connecting renewables to overhead electrified lines, and analyse how best to integrate new energy storage technologies to help keep electrification costs down.