Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) brings out new hydrogen-fueled switching locomotive; granted $4 million from California Energy Commission.
Here’s an article posted in Railway Technology that talks about Sierra Northern’s locomotive set to transform transportation.
According to the article,
- Sierra Northern Railway (SERA) has revealed a hydrogen-powered switching locomotive design.
- The locomotive aims to reduce air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.
- SERA received $4m from the California Energy Commission for the project.
The anticipated lifecycle costs of hydrogen fuel cell locomotives compared to traditional diesel locomotives involve several key factors, including capital costs, fuel costs, maintenance expenses, and operational efficiencies.
Capital Costs
Current estimates suggest that the capital cost for a hydrogen fuel cell system could be around $5.7 million for a 3300-kWe fuel cell locomotive, while a traditional diesel locomotive costs significantly less, approximately $1.4 million for a 4400-hp engine.
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Fuel Costs
The price of hydrogen has the potential to reduce to $4 per kilogram as technology and infrastructure improve. In contrast, diesel fuel costs are projected to rise, with estimates suggesting a 21% increase by 2030. The break-even cost for hydrogen relative to diesel is around $2.20 per kilogram for freight locomotives.
Maintenance Costs
Maintenance costs for hydrogen fuel cell locomotives are expected to be lower than those for diesel locomotives. Diesel locomotives incur maintenance costs of approximately $125,000 per year, with 30-40% of these costs attributed to engine maintenance. In contrast, hydrogen fuel cell systems may have maintenance costs that are 1.67 times higher than those for diesel engines, primarily due to balance of plant issues rather than the fuel cells themselves.
Operational Efficiency
Hydrogen fuel cell locomotives are projected to achieve higher operational efficiencies. For example, they may have a drive cycle efficiency that is 76% higher than diesel engines under specific duty cycles, which could translate into reduced fuel consumption and lower operational costs over time.
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Ammonia-Hydrogen Engine by Deutsche Bahn and Fortescue: Green Railways Deutsche Bahn and Fortescue are experimenting with an ammonia-hydrogen engine based on a modified diesel engine to utilize green ammonia and hydrogen. Hydrogen Trains in UK: Alstom’s Emission-Free Innovation: Alstom’s hydrogen trains to replace diesel locomotives in Britain by 2022, offering emission-free, quiet travel with a 1,000 km range and 140 km/h speed.
