engleski

Possibilities of Reducing CO2 Emissions in Rail Traffic

Harmful effect of CO2 emission in the environment is its contribution to the greenhouse effect, and the consequence is the tendency towards global warming of the Earth with all the adverse results of such an impact. Carbon dioxide is generated by complete combustion of fuel which contains carbon, primarily fossil fuels. In traffic, vehicles are propelled dominantly by precisely such fuels, and since traffic, following industry and households, represents a very big consumer of fuel it emits also respective volumes of CO2 into the environment. The share of single transport branches regarding CO2 emissions is different. Although railway occupies a significant share in traffic, it is one of the least energy consumers per unit of carried cargo and travelled kilometre. Direct CO2 emission refers only to Diesel traction which uses Diesel fuel, and indirect CO2 emission can refer also to electric traction if fossil fuel based thermal power stations are used in the production of electric energy, or if the equivalent of the consumed energy is considered in comparison to the possible CO2 emission. The paper analyzes the measures that can reduce CO2 emissions in rail transport, in order to make the necessary efforts in reducing the harmful impact on the environment in this transport mode as well. This refers primarily to the measures of reducing the consumption of Diesel fuel in Diesel traction, and also in general to the measures of reducing the energy consumption per unit of carried cargo and travelled kilometre. The paper indicates the potentials of the possible CO2 emission reduction, as well as the complexity and the assessment of measures that can be undertaken respectively.

reducing CO2 emissions; rail traffic

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