Merlin: Sustainable and intelligent management of
energy for smarter railway systems in Europe: an
integrated optimisation approach
Valerio Recagno
D’Appolonia S.p.A.
ERESS Forum - 13 June 2012
MERLIN
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Facts and Figures
Total budget: € 7,0€ million (4.5 mil € EC funding under FP7)
Project Duration: 36 months
Project Kick off: 1 October 2012
Partners:
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UNIFE (coordinator)
UIC
ADIF
Alstom
AnsaldoSTS
CAF (Technical leader)
D’Appolonia
FFE
UNEW
ZS
RFF
RENFE
MerMec
Oltis
AnsaldoBreda
Network Rail
RWTH - Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
Trafikverket
Siemens
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MERLIN
General objectives
 MERLIN’s main aim and concept is to investigate and demonstrate the
viability of an integrated optimization to achieve a more sustainable
and intelligent management of energy demand and usage in European
electric railway systems.
 More efficient traction energy supply based on optimised use of resources
 Improved design of future railway distribution networks and electrical systems as
well as their interfaces with the public grid
 Better understanding of the influence on energy demand of operations and
operational procedures of the different elements of the railway system
 Identification of technologies and solutions able to further contribute to the
optimisation of energy usage
 To develop the architecture specifications of an integrated energy optimisation
model for the design and operation of networks
 To identify and define real railway operation scenarios suitable for intelligent
management of energy
 To develop decision-support tools on those scenarios based on the MERLIN’s
architecture specified
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MERLIN
Expected Results (1/2)
 In 36 months, MERLIN will deliver:
 Issue of proposal for Technical Recommendations (UIC/UNIFE
TecRec):
 Specification and verification of energy & power consumptions for railway
systems (calculation and verification methodology).
 Energy and power related information protocols at operational level (interface
between the ground and the train can be standardized).
 Future Business models & recommendations (smart energy
management, cost saving):
 Fair share of the savings (game theory).
 Identification of interfaces between infrastructure and rolling stock
components & between railway network and energy.
 Recommendations supporting the fulfilment of Directive 2009/72/EC for
instance those related to closed distribution systems.
…
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MERLIN
Expected Results (2/2)
 … (cntd)
 Optimised solutions for current and future business models:
 Distributed architecture for smart energy management (onboard energy
management, dynamic response)
 Energy dispatcher – mission, requirements/architecture, proof of concept by
demonstration
 Onboard and wayside smart components
 Pilot case for assessment
 Numerical models and simulations to demonstrate the
architecture developed for the above TecRec.
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MERLIN
Holistic optimisation approach
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MERLIN
Objective towards 2009/72/EC
 Support of the fulfillment of the requirements in Directive
2009/72/EC regarding third party access to transmission and
distribution systems in railways:
 Issuing tools and components which will help infrastructure managers
and train operators on implementing the Directive 2009/72/EC.
 Developing position paper on the matter will be elaborated with the
collaboration of the Rail Reference Group.
 Future Business models & recommendations (smart energy
management, cost saving):
 Fair share of the savings (game theory).
 Identification of interfaces between infrastructure and rolling stock
components & between railway network and energy.
 Recommendations supporting the fulfilment of Directive 2009/72/EC for
instance those related to closed distribution systems.
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MERLIN
Thank you for your attention!
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