Huge potential lies in hydrogen-powered locomotives; Alstom makes great strides in UK with fully hydrogen-fueled passenger train.
Here’s an article posted in Reuters that talks about the replacement of diesel locomotives with Hydrogen in the UK by 2022.
According to the article,
- Hydrogen trains to replace diesel-powered railway locomotives
- Hydrogen offers an emission-free, quiet alternative
- Alstom created the first fully hydrogen-fueled passenger train route in Germany
- Trains have a hydrogen tank with a range of 1,000 kilometers and a maximum speed of 140 km/h
- Hydrogen trains could be running in Britain as early as 2022
The transition from diesel to hydrogen locomotives presents significant economic impacts across various countries. Here are some of the potential impacts:
- Health Cost Savings: In the U.S., diesel locomotives contribute to approximately 1,000 premature deaths annually due to air pollution, leading to health damage costs estimated at around $6.5 billion each year. Transitioning to hydrogen locomotives could significantly reduce these health impacts and associated costs.
- Potential Market Growth: The North American rail industry is projected to see substantial benefits if hydrogen technology is widely adopted. For example, societal noise reduction benefits from hydrogen trains in a specific region were estimated at $12 million annually, which could extrapolate to about $24 billion across North America.
Comparative Analysis With Other Countries
- Germany has been a leader in hydrogen train technology, with successful deployments reducing emissions and improving air quality. The economic benefits there include lower health costs and enhanced public acceptance of rail travel due to reduced noise and pollution.
- Canada is also exploring hydrogen trains, with a significant portion of its locomotive fleet being outdated diesel engines. The transition could not only improve environmental outcomes but also stimulate local economies through new infrastructure projects.
- Japan is investing in hydrogen technology as part of its broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The economic impacts here include potential job creation in the hydrogen production and rail sectors, along with health cost reductions from improved air quality.
Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:
Green Hydrogen Locomotive Design by SERA: Sierra Northern Railway unveils hydrogen-powered switching locomotive to reduce emissions, backed by $4m funding from California Energy Commission. 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.
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