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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.
Putting hydrogen on track
17/4/2024
10 min read
Train maker Alstom has pioneered development of passenger trains powered by hydrogen fuel cells as an alternative to diesel, in moves towards global transition to a low-carbon transport system.
Designed by Alstom teams in Salzgitter, Germany, and in Tarbes, France, hydrogen fuel-powered trains are gaining traction as an alternative to diesel propulsion, reducing greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions significantly and decarbonising mobility on the journey towards net zero.
In 2016, Alstom introduced the Coradia iLint train in Berlin at the IssoTrans show, calling it the world’s first train based on hydrogen technology. Within two years, the Coradia iLint had entered commercial service in Germany. On 15 September 2022, the train travelled 1,175 km without refuelling. It achieved a top speed of 140 km/h and acceleration and a braking performance comparable to a standard regional diesel train – but without the noise and emissions. To date, 59 hydrogen-powered train sets have been ordered by clients in Europe.
In 2023, the train carried passengers for the very first-time outside Europe, in Canada, where it transported over 10,000 passengers in a demonstration project in the Province of Quebec from mid-June to late September 2023 (see box).