Qatar Rail's ‘Regenerative Propulsion'wins CIHT 2025 Decarbonisation Award
Tribune News Network
Doha
Reinforcing its global leadership in sustainable innovation, Qatar Railways Company (Qatar Rail) has been honoured with the prestigious CIHT Decarbonisation Award 2025 by the UK-based Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), in recognition of its pioneering project, 'Regenerative Propulsion in the Doha Metro: Kinetic Energy to Electrical Energy'.
This achievement further cements Qatar Rail's position as a leader in environmental innovation and sustainability within the public transportation sector.
The award was announced during the CIHT Annual Awards Ceremony, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, and attended by over 480 international leaders and experts from transport sector. The project was selected from a record number of submissions this year, with only six entries shortlisted for the final stage, making the recognition especially significant.
On this occasion, Eng Jassim Al Ansari, chief of programme delivery at Qatar Rail, said: 'What differentiates Qatar Rail is our ability to integrate advanced technologies that deliver both operational and environmental value. Our regenerative braking system is a prime example capturing and reusing energy across the network, reducing dependency on external power sources, and optimising overall system efficiency. It's a forward-thinking solution that positions us at the forefront of smart transportation innovation.'
Eng Abdulrahman Al Malik, senior QSHESE director at Qatar Rail, stated: 'This global recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship. At Qatar Rail, we take great pride in aligning our operations with Qatar's national environmental goals by embedding energy-efficient practices across all levels of our transport systems.
The CIHT award reaffirms the importance of our efforts to minimise environmental impact while delivering high-performance infrastructure.'
The CIHT Decarbonisation Award recognises outstanding global projects and strategies that delivered tangible reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints. Qatar Rail's success in this category reflects its unwavering commitment to adopting cutting-edge technologies that contribute to climate action and responsible energy use.
Qatar Rail's winning initiative focuses on the application of regenerative braking technology within the Doha Metro. This system converts the kinetic energy produced during braking into usable electrical energy, which is then reused across the network unlike traditional braking systems where energy is lost as heat.
This regenerative feature allows the trains to generate up to 46 percent of their required traction energy during deceleration, transferring it to the grid for use by other trains. Thanks to this innovation, the Doha Metro is able to achieve significant annual energy savings, reduce operational costs, and cut carbon emissions. By converting kinetic energy into reusable power through electrodynamic braking, Qatar Rail has set a new benchmark for sustainability in urban transit across the region.
This international recognition comes less than a year after Qatar Rail won the 'Best Innovative Idea' award at the Tarsheed Energy and Water Efficiency Forum in November 2024, which highlighted the same regenerative propulsion system for its positive impact on energy conservation and operational efficiency.
This milestone reinforces Qatar Rail's contribution to the goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and reaffirms the role of public transportation in advancing sustainable development and environmental responsibility both nationally and internationally.
Doha Metro's system is one of a kind in the region, capable of effectively recycling energy that can either be used by other trains or stored within Qatar Rail's energy network for future consumption.
The regenerative braking technology enhances Doha Metro's operational efficiency by reducing maintenance costs and reliance on external power sources, while also minimising the environmental impact of its operations.
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