Collaboration Leads to an Innovative Solution for the Railway Sector

Harvesting “piston-effect” wind in railway tunnels

Dr Amir Keshmiri, Associate Professor at The University of Manchester and Founder/Technical Director of Mansim, is leading a pioneering research project to harness powerful wind in railway tunnels and turn it into renewable electricity.

Working within the University’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Dr Keshmiri and his colleague Dr Sorosh Mirfasihi, Head of Consulting at Mansim, are collaborating with Q-Sustain Limited, a Manchester-based engineering consultancy. The team is developing innovative vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) designed to capture airflow generated by trains moving through tunnels — a phenomenon known as the piston effect.

This research explores how such airflow can be integrated into transport infrastructure to generate clean electricity and support the UK’s decarbonisation goals.

As part of the study, the researchers have created VerXis Wind, a bespoke Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) toolkit that rapidly evaluates the performance and commercial viability of turbine designs, offering a practical platform for renewable-energy assessments across multiple sectors.

“Our VerXis toolkit represents a leap forward in renewable-energy research,” said Dr Amir Keshmiri, Associate Professor at The University of Manchester and Founder/Technical Director of Mansim. “By turning minimal tunnel geometry and schedule data into bank-level economic indicators in minutes, we’re bridging the gap between academic innovation and real-world deployment, making piston-wind VAWTs not just technically viable, but genuinely investable.”

Funded by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) under Sustainable Engineering and Transport Systems, the project will advance to prototype turbine testing in operational tunnels, with the aim of influencing future rail-energy standards.

The achievement has received widespread attention in the engineering press, including coverage by The Engineer, IMechE Professional Engineering, IET EngX / E+T Magazine, and other national outlets — recognising the innovative contribution of Dr. Kashmiri's team to sustainable transport and infrastructure design.

Verxis Model Estimating power generation based on tunnel and train characteristics.

The project has attracted significant media coverage across the UK engineering and technology press, highlighting its potential impact on sustainable infrastructure. Articles have appeared in The Engineer, IMechE Professional Engineering, IET EngX / E+T Magazine, and several other outlets, praising the innovation behind the VerXis Wind toolkit and its promise for integrating renewable energy into transport systems.