Renfe, Spain’s state-owned operator, has started equipping its Class 106 high-speed units with the Energy Measurement System (EMS), also known as the onboard metering system, a key technology to cut traction power use and reduce the railway’s energy bill.
This certified meter is installed on board and records in real time all the electricity the train draws from the overhead line, in accordance with standard EN 50463:2017. The equipment makes it possible to know precisely how much energy each formation and each diagram consumes, instead of relying on estimated calculations.
Although other high-speed sets, such as Classes 102 and 112 already have similar devices, the meters fitted to the Talgo Avril sets are the first to be fully certified. This means that only Class 106 units equipped with this kit are billed for traction power on the basis of actual consumption. Renfe will install these meters across the entire Class 106 fleet as well as on new-build trains currently under construction.
Energy saving and efficiency
With these real readings, traction energy on Adif’s network will be billed according to the exact consumption recorded by each train, providing a direct incentive to optimise driving techniques and the deployment of rolling stock. Onboard metering will also allow Renfe to benefit from the energy-efficiency bonus scheme, which offers a 5% discount on the electricity tariff.
After validating a prototype Class 106 unit, Renfe will roll out the system across the remainder of the fleet and on new trains now being built, further strengthening its position as a benchmark rail operator in sustainable mobility.