The US has gone on to launch its very first zero-emissions passenger train, which can very well prove to be a prominent landmark when it comes to the worldwide efforts to make sure that the public transport is decarbonized.
It is well to be noted that Zero Emission Multiple Unit – ZEMU happens to make its debut in California’s San Bernardino. The train happens to have the capacity to carry 108 passengers and is all set to go all out in early 2025. The ZEMU goes on to offer a real-time test of hydrogen technology when it comes to everyday public transport.
Hydrogen Trains – A trial to succeed
Although the US is just beginning on the hydrogen train expedition, there are certain other nations that have already made quite significant strides. Germany went on to launch its first hydrogen-powered train way back in 2018 and set a precedent for others to follow. The UK, on the other hand, is at present testing hydrogen trains as a part of its plans to phase out diesel trains entirely by 2040.
France has already gone on to order hydrogen trains for numerous regional lines and also looks forward to starting the ops from 2025.
All these initiatives that have been taken across the world are highlighting the recognition when it comes to the potential of hydrogen so as to cause a revolution throughout the gamut of rail transport.
Hydrogen Pitted Against Electric?
It has been just more than 200 years since the first rail line opened its doors in 1825 with coal-fired steam engines connecting 2 towns in England’s northern part. Since then, two centuries on, the railway sector has moved away from coal completely, with modern trains either getting hauled by diesel or electric locomotives.
With sustainability now right in the driver’s seat, one is indeed likely to see more focus when it comes to electricity as well as hydrogen in terms of being a power source as far as rail engines are concerned. So, what are the advantages of each?
To start with, let us settle with the fact that both hydrogen and electric trains happen to be regarded as emissions-free at the point of use. But electric trains depend on the power that is generated from the external sources, and if, in case that energy does not get generated from renewable sources, these trains happen to be indeed playing their role as far as carbon emissions are concerned. One of the Canadian studies shows that electric trains need costly and intricate infrastructure such as substations that offer the power and overhead gantries that carry the power cables. The development when it comes to battery-powered electric trains can make the thousand kilometres of wires to rest, but they would need to have a fast-charging infrastructure in place so as to swap the old and drained batteries for new ones. It’s the same study that also finds that hydrogen happens to have many advantages by being a power source for the gen-next trains. These go on to include a higher level of energy that comes embedded within hydrogen, the capacity to burn it in the combustion engines, or even transform it within the fuel cells so as to create electricity, and of course a much lower investment required upfront in terms of infrastructure vis-à-vis electric railways.
Hydrogen – The Challenges That It Is Up Against
One of the main benefits of electric railways happens to be the fact that the infrastructure, as well as safety measures, so as to supply and also manage massive power loads, are indeed already put up. The execution when it comes to hydrogen, on the other hand, as a rail fuel will need infrastructure development and that too on a pretty large scale so as to transport, store, and also roll it out safely. The fact is that hydrogen happens to be quite a volatile as well as a very explosive chemical, and hence the strict safety measures at each and every point across the supply chain are indeed a must.
The storage of large quantities when it comes to hydrogen, and that too on a fast-moving train, is indeed pretty hazardous. Apparently, the Rail Safety and Standards Board in the UK has gone on to publish a report that happens to address certain queries in regards to safety, technical benchmarks, and also the regulations that are needed to help the introduction of hydrogen trains into a common service. It happens to identify fire as the main issue and also discovers many ways to lessen the risks, ranging from placement of the hydrogen tanks on rolling stock or proper maintenance to make sure that operations turn out to be safe.
Rail Travel and the Future That It Holds
The hydrogen train’s success is going to depend on the parallel developments that have taken place within the gamut of green hydrogen production as well as its supporting infrastructure. As there are technologies that advance and economies of scale that come into the picture, one can surely expect to witness more hydrogen trains plying across the world, thereby contributing immensely when it comes to the journey towards sustainability.
The option between hydrogen as well as electric trains is going to most likely depend upon the specific route requirements, present infrastructure, long-term cost forecasts, and methods of local energy production.
In most cases, blend of both technologies might as well prove to be the most effective way out so as to completely achieve a network of railways that’s decarbonized. The World Economic Forum rolled out the Advanced Energy Solutions community that looks to rapidly speed up the industrial-scale deployment concerning advanced technologies like clean fuels, advanced nuclear, hydrogen, the eradication of carbon, and the storage of energy, thereby lessening the timelines from the erstwhile decades to years by way of engaging leaders across major energy sectors driving the shift.