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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Hydrogen - one future for rail transport?
1/6/2022
8 min read
As efforts to reduce carbon emissions from rail travel gather pace, there are growing indications that hydrogen-powered trains could emerge as a viable option. So, what would be the key benefits of using hydrogen trains for rail travel? And what are the plans for their roll-out in the coming years? Abigail Williams reports.
Although electric trains have long been viewed as the most likely successor to the existing diesel fleet across Europe and elsewhere, efforts to roll them out on a large-scale are often hampered by the need to invest in expensive electrical rail infrastructure. In recognition of this limitation, a growing number of companies are actively developing hydrogen-powered trains capable of running on the existing rail infrastructure.
One of the early trailblazers in this area is German company Siemens Mobility, which has developed the Mireo Plus H hydrogen train, a two-car commuter train with a state-of-the-art hydrogen drive system consisting of a fuel cell and a lithium-ion battery. According to the company, the Mireo Plus H will be as powerful as a conventional electric multiple-unit train and have an operating range of up to 800 km, depending on operating conditions such as the season or the route. An additional three-car version will have a range of 1,000 km.
Other distinguishing features of the train include its low lifecycle costs, achieved as a result of low maintenance and repair costs, and a top speed of 160 km/h. As Jochen Steinbauer, Head of Hydrogen Trains at Siemens Mobility, explains, in hydrogen drive systems using fuel cell technology, the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen produces electricity and water, meaning that the Mireo H Plus ‘can be used as a way to become climate-neutral by replacing diesel-powered trains with alternative drive systems.’