SEPTA wins environmental award for reusing braking energy

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) has received the Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for employing technology that reuses energy generated by braking trains.

SEPTA was recognized for using the technology at the Griscom Substation on the Market-Frankford Line, following the program's launch at the Letterly Substation, agency officials said in a press release.

The technology helps reduce electricity and consumption by capturing, storing and reusing energy created by braking subway trains. SEPTA has partnered with Philadelphia-based Viridity Energy to develop the system, which also has created revenue opportunities for the agency by providing frequency regulation services to the local Regional Transmission Organization.

The agency in January announced a plan to expand the program with seven new wayside energy storage devices at substations serving the Market-Frankford and Broad Street lines.

Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection issues the award to highlight "the best in environmental and innovation expertise," SEPTA officials said.

"Innovative, cutting-edge projects such as the wayside storage program are delivering real economic and environmental benefits for SEPTA, the Philadelphia region and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said SEPTA Chairman Pasquale Deon Sr.