According to a study published in the Nature Energy academic journal in June 2023, battery-powered freight trains could improve the reliability of the US electric grid if battery power becomes more common on major rail freight lines. In addition, the US’s railway network could serve as a nationwide backup transmission grid through mobile containerised batteries if the energy reserves are shared to meet spikes in demand. The study finds that RMES is a feasible reliability solution for low-frequency, high-impact events, and quantifies its cost effectiveness relative to reliability-driven investments in transmission infrastructure and stationary capacity.
