Railways Invites Bids for Hydrogen Fuel-based Tech for Diesel-run Trains

The railways has invited bids for hydrogen gas cell-based expertise by retrofitting on the Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) in 89 km Sonipat-Jind part of the Northern Railway, the ministry mentioned in a press release on Saturday. This is an try by the nationwide transporter to discover whether or not current diesel-run trains could be retrofitted to make use of hydrogen as an alternative.

“The retrofitting of diesel-powered DEMU and converting it into hydrogen fuel-powered train set will not only save the cost to the tune of Rs 2.3 crore annually by converting from diesel to hydrogen, but also save the carbon footprint (NO2) of 11.12 kilo tons per annum and particulate matter of 0.72 kilo tonnes per annum,” the assertion mentioned. It additionally mentioned that after profitable implementation of this pilot mission, all of the rolling inventory which can function on diesel gas after electrification could be deliberate to run on hydrogen gas.

Initially, two DEMU rakes shall be transformed, and later two hybrid slim gauge locos shall be transformed primarily based on hydrogen gas cell energy motion. After conversion, the prepare will run on hydrogen gas, the greenest mode of transport as hydrogen could be generated by electrolysing the water from photo voltaic power, the assertion added. Presently, only a few international locations are utilizing this technique. The trial of 1 rake is being accomplished in Germany and the trial of the opposite in Poland, it mentioned.