LRT-1 railway in Philippines to pilot Japanese energy-saving technology

Sumitomo Corp. and Hankyu are set to launch a pilot project on the 26 km LRT-1 elevated railway line in Metro Manila, Philippines, to implement Japanese energy-saving technology. The trial, scheduled to run from November until March 2028, aims to capture excess electricity generated by trains during braking.

This captured energy will be redirected to power station lighting, air conditioning, and elevators, potentially reducing annual railway electricity costs by approximately 3%. The amount of energy saved is estimated to be sufficient to power 2,000 households.

Currently, excess energy from braking is often released as heat if no other nearby trains can utilize it. By implementing specialized equipment to collect this power, the project addresses high electricity costs in the Philippines, which is driven by a heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels and geographic challenges in grid development.