India Railways will operate trains on hydrogen fuel technology

Railway plans to run trains on hydrogen fuel, the project will save INR 2.3 crore annually, said the ministry.

Government flagship programs include ‘Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries’ and ‘National Hydrogen Mission’, aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions under Paris Climate Agreement 2015 and ‘Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway’ by 2030. Indian Railways will run trains on hydrogen fuel.

A press release announcing the concept of hydrogen mobility was released by the ministry of railways on Saturday. 

The India Railways Organization for Alternative Fuel (IROAF), has invited bids to operate a hydrogen fuel cell-powered train on its network. The project will initially be undertaken on the Sonipat-Jind section of the Northern Railway.

As informed by ADG PRO Rajiv Jain, there are 89 km of track between Haryana’s Jind and Sonipat that will be upgraded for DEMU trains. The pre-bidding conference will take place on August 17, and the process is expected to be completed by October 5.  

SK Saxena, CEO of Railway Energy Management Company Limited, described hydrogen fuel as the cleanest form of energy. He further stated that using a hydrogen fuel cell will replace the diesel generator. Hydrogen generated through solar energy will be a clean source of energy, replacing diesel fuel. 

According to the Railway Ministry, initially, two DEMU rakes will be converted, followed by two-hybrid locomotives using hydrogen fuel cell technology, while no changes will be made in the driving console. It is estimated that the project will save INR 2.3 Cr. annually for the Indian Railways.

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