Real-world examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation

Best examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation today

When people ask for examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation, they usually want proof that this isn’t just a future concept. The reality: it’s already baked into how many modern systems operate, especially where clean electricity is cheap and policy support is strong.

Some of the best examples fall into four big buckets:

• Electric public transit powered by renewables
• Corporate and freight fleets charging from clean grids or on-site generation
• Aviation and shipping turning to sustainable fuels
• Rail and micro-mobility tapping into renewable electricity

Let’s walk through specific, real examples that show what this looks like in practice.

Solar-powered transit: real examples from cities and bus fleets

One of the clearest examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation is the pairing of solar power with electric buses.

Los Angeles Metro is a good example of how this works in the real world. The agency is transitioning its bus fleet to battery-electric and installing solar on depots and maintenance facilities to offset charging demand. California’s grid is already heavily supplied by renewables; according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewables (including large hydro) provided over one‑third of in‑state generation in 2023, with solar leading growth (EIA). That means every kilowatt-hour used to charge buses is getting cleaner each year.

A more focused case is Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), north of Los Angeles. AVTA operates a fully electric bus fleet and pairs it with:

• On-site solar canopies over parking areas
• Battery storage to smooth demand and reduce peak charges
• Smart charging to align bus charging with solar output and cheaper grid power

This is a textbook example of integration of renewable energy in transportation: generation, storage, and vehicles are managed as a single system, not as separate projects.

Other cities provide similar real examples:

• Santiago, Chile runs thousands of electric buses, many charged from a grid with rapidly growing solar capacity in the Atacama Desert.
• Shenzhen, China operates an all-electric bus and taxi fleet, supported by one of the world’s largest deployments of renewable generation and grid-scale storage.

In each case, the buses are only half the story. The real innovation is in how transit agencies time charging, contract for renewable power, and use depots as mini power plants.

Corporate EV fleets charging on renewable-heavy grids

If you want examples of examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation in the private sector, look at corporate EV fleets.

Take Amazon in the United States. The company has ordered tens of thousands of custom electric delivery vans and is building a network of depot chargers across major metro areas. Parallel to that, Amazon has become one of the largest corporate buyers of renewable energy globally, signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) for utility-scale wind and solar. While the electrons are not literally tagged, the net effect is that a growing share of Amazon’s transportation energy demand is matched by new renewable generation.

Another strong example of integration: UPS and FedEx. Both are deploying electric delivery trucks and yard tractors, especially in urban areas. Many of these facilities are in states like California, New York, and Texas, where wind and solar are rapidly expanding. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center, transportation electrification coupled with decarbonizing the grid is one of the most effective pathways to cut emissions from the sector (DOE AFDC).

Some logistics hubs go further and install on-site renewables:

• Solar carports over employee and fleet parking
• Rooftop solar on warehouses
• Behind-the-meter battery storage to shave peaks and provide backup power

These setups turn depots into energy assets, not just cost centers. They’re real examples of how fleet electrification can be strategically aligned with renewable power procurement.

Airports and aviation: emerging examples include solar, SAF, and electric ground support

Airports are quietly becoming some of the most interesting examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation because they combine stationary and mobile energy loads in one place.

Many U.S. airports now run significant solar arrays on unused land or rooftops. Denver International Airport, for instance, has several large solar installations that supply a portion of its electricity needs. That power supports:

• Electric ground support equipment (baggage tugs, belt loaders)
• Terminal operations (lighting, HVAC, electric vehicle charging)

At the same time, airlines and airports are experimenting with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). SAF is produced from feedstocks like used cooking oil, agricultural residues, or municipal solid waste and is designed to be a drop‑in replacement for conventional jet fuel. The U.S. Department of Energy notes that SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions significantly compared to fossil jet fuel, depending on the feedstock and process (DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office).

These early SAF deployments are still small compared to total jet fuel use, but they are concrete examples of how renewable and low‑carbon fuels are being blended into mainstream aviation operations.

Some airports also provide preferential gate access or fee reductions for airlines that use SAF or more efficient aircraft, tying renewable fuel use directly to business incentives.

Rail and transit: electric trains powered by renewables

Rail is often overlooked in discussions about examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation, but it might be one of the most straightforward cases.

Electric rail systems—metros, light rail, and commuter rail—run directly on electricity that can be sourced from renewables. Many European rail operators now purchase certified renewable electricity for traction power. In the U.S., several agencies have moved in that direction as well.

For instance, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in California has signed long-term contracts for wind and solar to supply a large share of its electricity needs. That means every train trip is, in effect, powered by a cleaner grid mix each year. BART has published climate and energy reports detailing how these contracts reduce emissions per passenger-mile.

Internationally, some of the best examples include:

• Deutsche Bahn (Germany), which has a stated goal of running its long-distance services on 100% renewable electricity and already sources a high share from wind and hydro.
• Dutch Railways (NS), which has claimed that all of its electric trains run on wind power under long-term supply contracts.

These are strong real examples of how large-scale, high-frequency transportation can be directly tied to renewable generation through contracts and grid planning.

Biofuels and renewable diesel for trucks and buses

Not every vehicle can be electrified overnight, and that’s where biofuels come in as another family of examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation.

In the U.S., renewable diesel has become a major player for heavy-duty trucks and municipal fleets. Unlike biodiesel blends that are often limited to lower percentages, renewable diesel can be used as a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel in many engines.

Transit agencies and city fleets in California, Oregon, and Washington have adopted renewable diesel to cut emissions without replacing vehicles. Because it is produced from biomass-based feedstocks—such as waste fats and oils—it is considered a renewable fuel under policies like the federal Renewable Fuel Standard and California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides detailed information on lifecycle emissions and policy frameworks for these fuels (EPA Renewable Fuel Standard).

This is a practical example of integrating renewable energy into existing transportation infrastructure: fuel changes first, vehicles and drivetrains follow over time.

Micro-mobility and last-mile: solar-charged bikes, scooters, and carshare

Not all examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation are big-ticket rail lines or airport projects. Some of the most nimble changes are happening at the neighborhood level.

Shared e-bikes and e-scooters are increasingly charged from facilities that either host solar panels or buy renewable electricity through green tariffs. Cities like Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., have encouraged operators to align with citywide climate goals, which often include targets for renewable electricity use.

Carshare and ride-hail operators are also experimenting with:

• EV-only fleets in certain zones
• Preferential parking or access for EVs
• Partnerships with utilities to install fast chargers powered by renewables

These are smaller in scale but powerful as real examples of how everyday trips—grocery runs, commutes, school drop-offs—can be powered by cleaner energy without requiring private car ownership.

Grid integration: smart charging, V2G, and storage as the next wave

If you’re looking for forward-leaning examples of examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation, pay attention to grid integration projects that treat vehicles as flexible loads—or even as energy resources.

Smart charging programs allow fleets to shift EV charging to hours when wind or solar output is highest. Utilities in California, New York, and several Midwestern states are piloting tariffs and control systems that:

• Delay charging until late at night when wind power is abundant
• Accelerate charging at midday when solar generation peaks
• Reduce charging during grid stress events

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilots go one step further by allowing parked EVs—especially school buses and fleet vehicles—to discharge power back to the grid. School districts in states like Virginia and California are testing electric buses that can send electricity to the grid during summer peaks when buses are idle.

These projects are among the most advanced examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation because they blur the line between vehicle and grid asset. Transportation is no longer just a consumer of energy; it becomes a tool to stabilize a renewable-heavy grid.

Why these examples matter for business and policy

All of these examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation share a few common threads that matter for decision-makers:

• They link long-lived transportation assets (buses, trains, trucks, planes) with long-term energy procurement strategies.
• They rely on policy frameworks—like renewable portfolio standards, low-carbon fuel standards, and clean energy tax credits—to pencil out economically.
• They show that emissions reductions, fuel cost savings, and resilience can be pursued together, rather than traded off.

For businesses, the best examples also tend to be the most boring on paper: they are standardized, repeatable, and financially grounded. Solar canopies at depots, renewable power contracts for rail systems, renewable diesel for legacy fleets—these are not flashy, but they work, and they scale.

For policymakers, the lesson is that transportation and energy planning can’t be siloed. The strongest real examples come from regions where utility regulators, transit agencies, and city planners actually talk to each other.

FAQ: examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation

Q1. What are some concrete examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation?
Some of the most concrete examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation include solar-powered bus depots with battery storage, electric rail systems supplied by contracted wind and solar, corporate EV fleets charged from renewable-heavy grids, airports using solar and sustainable aviation fuel, and municipal fleets running on renewable diesel.

Q2. What is one example of a city using renewables for public transit?
A widely cited example of a city doing this is Los Angeles, where electric buses are increasingly charged from a grid with high solar penetration, and depots are adding on-site solar and storage to support operations.

Q3. Do electric vehicles always count as renewable transportation?
Not automatically. EVs are only as clean as the electricity that charges them. However, in regions where utilities are adding significant wind and solar, or where fleets buy renewable electricity through PPAs or green tariffs, EVs become strong examples of renewable-powered transportation.

Q4. Are there examples of renewable energy in heavy-duty trucking and freight?
Yes. Early examples include electric regional-haul trucks charged at depots that use solar and storage, as well as heavy-duty fleets that have switched to renewable diesel or high-blend biofuels to cut lifecycle emissions without replacing vehicles.

Q5. How can organizations start creating their own examples of integration of renewable energy in transportation?
Organizations can begin by electrifying high-mileage routes, installing or sourcing renewable electricity for chargers, switching suitable vehicles to renewable diesel or biofuels, and partnering with utilities on smart charging pilots. Starting with a single depot, route, or facility and expanding from there is often the most realistic path.