Vertical wind turbines may soon power UK railways using tunnel airflow

Vertical wind turbines may soon power UK railways using tunnel airflow
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Oct 23, 2025
Engineers at The University of Manchester are breaking new ground with technology that could transform train tunnels into renewable power stations. Their research focuses on capturing powerful winds generated by trains passing through tunnels using vertical axis wind turbines, a method referred to as the piston effect.

A collaboration between the university's Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Q-Sustain Limited has resulted in the design of custom vertical turbines that convert tunnel airflows into clean electricity. This project, which is launching with the Transpennine Route Upgrade, aims to incorporate these turbines into transport infrastructure and bolster the UK's drive towards decarbonisation.

Initial feasibility assessments have confirmed tunnel airflow's viability for energy production, and the team's bespoke techno-economic analysis toolkit, VerXis Wind, is now being used to evaluate both performance and commercial prospects. The software, available via the VerXis Wind platform, can be adapted for other renewable projects beyond rail.

Backed by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account and focusing on sustainable engineering and transport systems, this initiative has the potential to reshape future transport infrastructure design and operation.

Dr Amir Keshmiri, Academic Lead for the project, stated, "Our VerXis toolkit represents a leap forward in renewable energy research. By turning minimal tunnel geometry and schedule data into bank-level economic indicators in minutes, we're bridging the gap between academic innovation and real-world deployment, making piston-wind VAWTs not just technically viable, but genuinely investable."

Azhar Quaiyoom, Director at Q-Sustain Limited, noted, "What excites us most about VerXis is its ability to rapidly test and scale turbine designs tailored to each tunnel environment. This toolkit enables smarter, data-driven decisions, helping us deploy sustainable solutions in railway infrastructure that align with the UK's net-zero ambitions and calculates the return on investment for our clients."

The next phase will see prototype turbines trialled in operational tunnels and further enhancements to the VerXis toolkit, aiming to set new precedents for rail energy standards. Should the approach prove successful, it could serve as a scalable renewable integration model for various transport systems across the UK and internationally.