VERBUND-E-Novation Award (VERENA) 2024: Siemens Mobility Austria and TU Vienna win with the “Bionic Train Carriage Body” project
This year’s VERBUND-E-Novation Award – VERENA for short – went to Siemens Mobility Austria GmbH in cooperation with the Vienna University of Technology. The “Bionic Train Carriage Body” project impressed the jury. The innovative technology reduces the body shell weight of an underground train carriage body by 20 per cent, making underground railway transport more energy-efficient and sustainable.
The “Bionic Train Carriage Body” uses an innovative lightweight structure that is modelled on the leaf structure of trees. With this technology, the bodyshell weight of a metro carriage can be reduced by one tonne, reducing energy consumption and extending the service life of the vehicles. This innovation is already being used on the new Piccadilly Line trains in London and is setting new standards in urban transport.
“This project impressively demonstrates how technical innovations can contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing efficiency in urban transport,” emphasises Franz Zöchbauer, Head of Corporate Innovation at VERBUND. “The collaboration between Siemens Mobility and TU Wien is an outstanding example of how state-of-the-art technologies can conserve resources and make public transport more sustainable. This innovation represents significant progress in the lightweight construction of aluminium car bodies and makes underground trains more energy-efficient and sustainable. It sets new standards for the mobility revolution and encourages us to rethink mobility design. This is exactly the kind of solution we need on our way to a sustainable energy future.”
Two further nominees for the VERENA Award
In addition to Siemens Mobility Austria, two further companies were nominated for the VERENA Award 2024: ANEXIA Internetdienstleistungs GmbH in cooperation with the University of Klagenfurt, Carinthia, with the “Anexia Rail” project. The aim is the AI-supported optimisation of locomotive and personnel planning at ÖBB in order to reduce costs and CO₂ emissions.
Weider Wärmepumpen GmbH in co-operation with Salzburg University of Applied Sciences, Vorarlberg, with the “geoAir” project. Here, geothermal energy is regenerated through living space ventilation, which reduces heating costs and CO₂ emissions.
About the VERBUND-E-Novation Award
The VERBUND-E-Novation Award (VERENA) has been presented as a special prize of the State Prize for Innovation since 2012. It honours outstanding projects in the areas of energy efficiency, security of supply and the use of renewable energies. VERENA promotes co-operation between industry and research and motivates companies to develop and implement future-oriented measures.
