Skip to main content LinkedIn. Instead, they give off steam. The use of hydrogen for rail vehicles is a milestone in the application of fuel cells for emission-free transport, said Linde executive board member Bernd Eulitz in a press release. Hydrogen is supplied to the cell and then combined with oxygen taken from the ambient air inside it. During a press event at Alstoms test facility in November 2017, company representatives said Coradia iLint could highlight the start of an industry-wide shift towards hydrogen as a sustainable fuel. Subscribers, sign in to access exclusive content. The trains, five of which which debut Wednesday, will gradually replace the 15 diesel trains that currently run on the route, with all 14 running exclusively by the end of the year. 2. Don't miss this look at the history of America's most influential builder of locomotives. By 2035, around 15 to 20 percent of the regional European market could run on hydrogen, according to Alexandre Charpentier, a rail expert at consultancy Roland Berger. The leftover part of the hydrogen molecule reacts with oxygen at the cathode and becomes the waste product water. It is now used on the world premiere 100% hydrogen train route, in passenger operation. A world leader in green traction solutions Press Releases 02 Feb 2023 Alstom's Coradia iLint, the world's first hydrogen-powered passenger train, will demonstrate green traction in Quebec When diesel fuel is burned, it creates carbon dioxide and other polluting gases. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Aside from its clean output, iLints key advantages are its smart power management and flexible energy storage. On the flipside, one major benefit of trains like the Hydroflex is their potential as a bi-mode train, meaning they can run on the electrified or conventional lines alike. Humans Can Understand Signals Used by Apes, Biden Visits Ukraine Nearly a Year After War Started, 4-Day Work Week Good for Companies & Workers, testing an early model of the hydrogen-powered trains, News Roundup: Kinshasa Floods, Korean Ages, & a Tough Test, Fusion Progress: Scientists Gain Energy for the First Time, Switzerlands Giant Water Battery Starts Working, Many Upset Over Changes to Roald Dahl Books. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. As the world looks to curb carbon emissions, rail operators continued focus on diesel has put a spotlight on the industry. The initial service is being billed as preliminary, in case operating adjustments are needed before a reliable service can be officially launched, so older diesel multiple-unit trainsets remain as a backup for the next few months. As such, longer-distance journeys wouldnt yet be feasible. The first hydrogen-powered passenger trains built byAlstom SAareset to debut in Germany and establish a toehold forthetechnologyin Europe. A Warner Bros. The trains cost $86 million (including a 30-year maintenance contract), part of which has been funded by the German federal government. And just two years later, at2018, the iLint enteredinto commercial service in Germany. The city of Frankfurt, Germany has already ordered 27 of the Coradia iLint trains. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The fueling station, run by Linde, has 64 high pressure storage tanks, six hydrogen compressors and two fuel pumps. 2023 Cable News Network. Currently, Germany has about 4,000 diesel-powered trains, but its working to replace those. TOKYO -- JR East showed off Japan's first hydrogen-powered hybrid train Friday, touting a zero-emissions system developed with Hitachi and Toyota Motor. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. You can also book the train with a tour guide and a wine tastingand samples of cheese, dry sausage and other spirits(and a free tote bag!) Manufactured by French mobility company Alstom in a 93 million euro ($96.4 million . Just 1 kilo of hydrogen fuel can do the same as around 4.5 kilos of diesel. Sounds terribly inefficient to me. The plan is that hydrogen will be produced onsite via electrolysis and wind energy at a later stage of the project. Pros/Cons endmrw0726221304, Preview Garden Railways March and April content. Low pressure hydraulic systems controlling CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. There has been dialogue with [the] Liverpool city region and various rolling stock operating companies about how we can develop a demonstrator, said Alstom UK managing director for trains and modernisation Mike Hulme in an interview with The Engineer magazine. This is really the space where hydrogen fuel comes in as a real cost-effective and valuable alternative and delivers a low-carbon railway, says Simpson. They estimatethat by mid-century, the sector could be worth between $24 billion and $48 billion. After a lengthy trial period on a 123-kilometer (76-mile)track in Lower Saxony, Germany, commercial operations willbegin next March, according to Carmen Schwabl, managing director atrail operatorLNVG. The 93 million euro ($92.3 million) deal has been struck by state subsidiary Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen (LVNG), the owners of the railway, and Alstom, builders of the Coradia iLint trains. Niedersachen is nowhere near 100% wind and solar, neither is any other part of the world, now or at any future time. Having the world's first hydrogen-powered train fleet in service in the region is mainly due to the fact that train manufacturer Alstom is based in the nearby town of Salzgitter. Hydrogen-powered trains like Hydroflex are emissions free - provided their hydrogen comes from a renewable source (Credit: University of Birmingham). Rail electrification projects have been ongoing, while industry players have been looking for green fuel alternatives that will allow trains to continue running autonomously. The fuel tanks on the Hydroflex, for example, have to be small enough to fit in an ordinary car that can pass through Victorian-era railway tunnels. Thats one reason many countries are trying to find energy choices that pollute less. Fendt shows first hydrogen tractor at German Hydrogen Summit. Partnerships have recently been signed with India and Morocco, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz sealed a green hydrogen deal with Canada on a visit this week, laying a path for a transatlantic supply chain. In Bremervrde, Germany, the worlds first hydrogen filling station for passenger trains, built in cooperation with LINDE, is in operation. Hydrogen trains are particularly attractive on short regional lines where the cost of a transition to electric outstrips the profitability of the route. That current can be created using energy from renewable energy sources, but it has yet to be done outside of small test demonstrations. It is a problem seen across the continent, where colossal investment would be needed for a real shift to hydrogen. Following this, Alstom has been in talks to run trials in Liverpool, UK, as well as establish a source of hydrogen from refineries in the region. Theres a hydrogen station on the line to refuel the trains. In 2020, the country's national rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, said it was developing a hydrogen-powered train. Did you encounter any technical issues? Ive been aboard a train during both the coupling and uncoupling operations. When the train brakes, the fuel cells are almost completely powered down, saving on hydrogen consumption. It seems that battery trains could have an advantage for short distances, but we need to sort this out.. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much 24 August 2022 - Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is proud to announce that the world's first hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint, reached another historical milestone today in Bremervrde, Lower Saxony, Germany. Hydrogen conquers the rails. The cheapest and most common method at present uses natural gas and high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen. There are substantial growth prospects for hydrogen trains in Europe, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. In many places, hydrogen-powered trains are a smart choice for replacing diesel trains. That front coupler looks enormous. The project created jobs for up to 80 employees in the two countries, according to Alstom. The choice between batteries or fuel cells to replace diesel depends on factors like the length of the tracks, frequency of service and number of stops. Hydroflex runs on a hydrogen produced using natural gas but its supplier, BOC, says it is looking into renewable options. The digital emissions from this story are an estimated 1.2g to 3.6g CO2 per page view. Its rival Siemens AGis also developinghydrogen trainsand the European market is estimated to grow to tens of billions of dollars in the coming years as emissions rulesget tougher. While hydrogen technology might appear complicated, it works in a simple way. connections as well as physically coupling. As the travel industry tries to build a more sustainable future to protect the planet, this zero-emissionpassenger trainwill run between Qubec and Baie-Saint-Paul in Canada. In order to be a truly green form of travel, the hydrogen would need to be created and stored using renewable energy sources, like off-shore wind farms and solar grids, rather than fossil fuels. Is the Earths Inner Core Spinning More Slowly? This will make Qubec the first jurisdiction in North America to operate a zero-emission passenger train powered by green hydrogen. Hydrogen trains have become a promising way to decarbonise the rail sector and replace climate-warming diesel, which still powers 20 percent of journeys in Germany. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. They will also be making a stop in Italy, where six trains have been commissioned for use in the northern Lombardy region, and in France, where 12 trains will be shared across four regions. We are delivering significant market advantage with a design and integration strategy utilizing existing (best of) technology and tried, tested and widely available chassis, electric motricity, fuel tanks, fuel cells and a balance of systems. This button displays the currently selected search type. Engineers who developed the new train, from the University of Birmingham and British rail company Porterbrook, wanted passengers to sit alongside the trains hydrogen fuel cells. Bremervrde is around 40 miles southwest of the city of Hamburg. The costs to an owner of a regional passenger train arecheapest when it is powered by electric batteries, followed by diesel, hydrogen and then electric lines, according to clean energy research group BloombergNEF. The train passes through seven coastal towns, and its hydrogen will be produced by Harnois nergies in Qubec City. As part of the deal, Alstom will provide maintenance for the trains over a 30-year period. Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Thats good for people both inside and outside the train. 1. Because the motor is electric, the trains run almost silently. Currently, about one out of two regional trains in Europe runs on diesel. Alstom CNN The future of environmentally friendly travel might just be here - and it's Germany that's leading the. Germany's inauguration of a railway line powered entirely by hydrogen has been hailed as a "world premiere" and a significant step forward for green train transport. Climate change means the way the worlds weather has changed over a long period of time. Fusion power is a long way off, but the news is major progress toward a powerful, clean energy source. Top-Speed If the fuel cells make too much electricity, its used to recharge the trains batteries. Joe Baker Each train can operate around 620 miles on a full set of hydrogen cylinders, weighing about 1,600 kilograms (3,530 pounds). BTW, batteries are charged off the local grid, which means the same mixture of wind, solar, nuke, and fossil fuel as any other consumer of electricity anywhere in Niedersachen state. The oxygen comes from the air around the train. Alstom University is a learning powerhouse sharing knowledge and a means for its employees to continuously upgrade themselves, their skills and competencies. A fleet of 14 trains provided by French industrial giant Alstom to the German state of Lower Saxony has replaced diesel locomotives on the 100km (60 miles) of track connecting the cities of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude near Hamburg. The challenge is, at the moment hydrogen is made as a byproduct of chemical processes, says Helen Simpson, innovation and projects director at Porterbrook. India is set to unveil its first hydrogen-powered train this year, which will generate its own electricity using hydrogen, eliminating the need for overhead wires along railway tracks. These trains will utilize a new hydrogen fueling station built alongside an existing major chemical works at Frankfurt Hchst. The French research institute IFP specialising in energy issues says that hydrogen is currently 95 percent derived from the transformation of fossil fuels, almost half of which come from natural gas. The Coradia iLint is the world's first passenger train with electric traction powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. Image: ACUA Ocean. Access our financial & share information, our financial calendar and results, regulated information, shareholders' meetings and investors' contacts & presentations. Once the required level of reliability is achieved, a big public opening ceremony and inauguration by the Governor of the state of Lower Saxony is planned for later this year. The 14 hydrogen-powered trains join a fleet of 40 locomotives and 20 DMUs. First Two-Story 3D-Printed House in the US, Worlds Oldest Mouse? On March 15, representatives of Siemens Mobility and Bayerische Regiobahn (BRB) signed a leasing contract for the innovative prototype in the presence of Bavaria's Economic Affairs Minister Hubert Aiwanger and Bavaria's Transport Minister Christian Bernreiter. From 2018 to 2022, our Coradia iLint traveled more than 200.000 km. At Alstom, we innovate not only to deliver operationally today, but to transform mobility at large, by pioneering smarter and greener mobility solutions for all. Commercial trials have been carried out since 2018 on the line with two hydrogen trains but now the entire fleet is adopting the groundbreaking technology. However, the remaining 58% of UK track is not yet electrified, so diesel trains are still needed to keep those areas connected by rail. 2. A fleet of 14 trains were. Hydrogen trains are equipped with fuel cells that produce electricity through a combination of hydrogen and oxygen, a process that leaves steam and water as the only emissions. Thanks for subscribing! ), and then back to the Chute Montmorency station. Dj vu! Hydrogen trains have potential to be particularly useful in areas with large distances to cover and lower passenger demand (Credit: Getty Images). The iLint is special for its combination of different innovative elements: clean energy conversion, flexible energy storage in batteries, and smart management of traction power and available energy. Hydrogen is not used directly for propulsion. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Specifically designed to non- or partially electrified lines, it enables clean, sustainable train operation while ensuring high levels of performance. electricity from solar photovoltaics and electrolysis of water, says Margaret S. Wooldridge, an aerospace engineer at the University of Michigan. We are a group of passionate, dedicated people who love working together as problem-solvers and trouble-shooters. Get great snapshots of railroading history in Art Petersons newest book. The EVB's. The first test run of an iLint prototype took place at Alstoms Salzgitter facility in March 2017, and trials have been ongoing since. Starting June 17, the Coradia iLint will run from Wednesdays to Saturdays until September 30. Join Today! Another lingering environmental issue with hydrogen-powered trains is their use of lithium batteries. Ensure a safe, slow approach from others with this railroad-themed logo mask! It would be interesting to inquire if they still power equipment that way. A recent report sponsored by the US Energy Department and Federal Rail Administration notes that while powering freight trains with hydrogen is more technically challenging, it would ultimately have the highest societal value. In Austria, the federal railway OBB tested Alstoms hydrogen train last year near Vienna and is evaluating how it compares with other systems for replacing diesel, Chief Technical Officer Mark Topal Goekceli said during the same forum. Access is and will always be free of charge. Necessary cookies are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the basic functionality of the website. Worlds first hydrogen trains enter regular passenger service. Berlin: German industrial giant Siemens unveiled Thursday its first hydrogen-powered train developed with rail operator Deutsche Bahn, with a plan to put it into service regionally in 2024. German behemoth Siemens unveiled a prototype hydrogen train with national rail company Deutsche Bahn in May, with a view to a rollout in 2024. Trial operation has shown that every 2 pounds of hydrogen can replace a gallon of diesel fuel. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. The engineers at Birmingham are currently working on more efficient ways to compress hydrogen, one of several hurdles Hydroflex still has to navigate. But hydrogen-powered trains have been emerging as a viable and much safer means of transport. Political leaders will have to decide which sector to prioritise when determining what the production of hydrogen will or wont go to, Charpentier said. Alstom has been promoting trains that runon fuel cells for more than five years as an alternative to carbon-emitting diesel engines. Two more hydrogen train fleets are on order in Germany, both also benefitting from federal government subsidies. Sign up for our newsletter for the latest tech news and scoops delivered daily to your inbox. Updated Last Friday, Britains Prince William announced the winners of this years Earthshot Prize. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". We offer extensive range of proven and modular components for all types of railway vehicles. LNVG has ordered a total of 14 of the hydrogen-powered trains, which are expected to replace 15 diesel-powered trains by the end of the year. In August, the world's first fleet of hydrogen-powered passenger trains debuted outside of Hamburg, Germany. The world's first passenger train powered by hydrogen fuel cell was produced by Alstom. We already have this email. Even though the only direct waste product of hydrogen fuel is water, obtaining this form of power is not squeaky clean. LNVG has been testing an early model of the hydrogen-powered trains since 2018. Stefan Schrank, who works for Alstom, believes that Germany could replace up to 3,000 of its diesel trains with hydrogen-powered trains. The deal has been a decade in the making. The manufacturer says the trains are a "true alternative to diesel power" as Europe tries to wean itself off of Russian oil. The way hydrogen powers a train like the Hydroflex is quite simple. President of Lower Saxony, Stephan Weil, called the news a model for the rest of the world and a milestone on the road to climate neutrality in the transport sector.. When there is news that may not be suitable for all ages, we try to tag it. This will make Qubec the first jurisdiction in North America to operate a zero-emission passenger train powered by green hydrogen. Find the latest Alstom press releases and news, press kits, your regional press contacts and more! Here are photos of the world's first hydrogen-powered train. The other four sets of rolling stock will be DMUs plus at least one Metrolink LAUPT to San Bernardino commuter trail with originate and terminate in Redlands. Our ambition is to accompany all transportation stakeholders in meeting tomorrows mobility challenges. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. While it will take some time to entirely switch the continent's rail network to green . For longer distances and areas where we need more power, hydrogen has an advantage, he said. The best part is, when a fuel cell creates electricity, it doesnt create pollution. Of course, youre wondering, when can you ride it? Alstom has a long history, but today, we want the world, and especially younger generations, to know the real Alstom. The UK's first hydrogen-powered train, the HydroFLEX, was launched in 2019 and is based on a Class 319 train fitted with hydrogen fuel tanks, a fuel cell and a battery pack. The trains are emissions-free and low-noise, with only steam and condensed water issuing from the exhaust. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. So even though there is certainly an expense to building new hydrogen-powered trains (one of the Alstrom hydrogen trains costs approximately 5.19m), or retrofitting older ones, they are a flexible alternative while the majority of lines especially rural ones are yet to be converted to carry electric-trains. Additionally, Alstom will supply 27 hydrogen trains until the end of 2022 for operations in the Rhine-Main region.