Benchmarking Energy Management Systems in Metro Stations

Abstract

Energy and environmental sustainability have become central objectives in mobility system design and mass transit schemes. In addition to environmental prudence, a new world economic order calls for more efficient use of financial resources. This study focuses on developing a benchmarking technique to measure the degree to which energy management systems are utilized in metro stations by reviewing the broad literature in energy management in the transportation and construction sectors and exploring the techniques used to reduce energy consumption. A System Application Matrix is constructed using the Quality Function Development approach and Analytic Hierarchy Process in which the model has three main energy management categories: an energy efficiency system, a renewable energy system and a recovery energy system. Each main category includes a subcategory or subcategories. For example, the LED lighting system, walls insulation and platform screen doors are the subcategories of the energy efficiency system. Solar panel is the only subcategory of the renewable energy efficiency system and energy storage is also the only subcategory of the recovery energy system. The optimal design of these five subcategories will be provided for developing the System Application Matrix. Furthermore, the System Application Matrix is validated via industry and academia experts' input, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process and piloted on theoretical data runs. After prioritizing the experts' judgments, the energy efficiency system had the highest priority (61.2%) compared to the two other main categories of the energy management system. Consequently, after Quality Function Development matrix analysis, LED lighting had the highest level of importance by almost 29.1%. The next highest elements were wall insulation and platform screen doors by almost 26.2%. Solar panels, with 9.8%, and energy storage, with 8.7%, were the last two elements in terms of relative importance. Ultimately, the System Application Matrix, which is a "Best in Class" benchmarking model, is considered to be an integration model providing both government and private sectors with the ability to measure the level of importance of applied energy management elements in metro stations.