Hydrogen trains have become a promising way to decarbonise the rail sector and replace climate-warming diesel, which still powers 20% of journeys in Germany.
A hydrogen- powered regional train stands at Bremervoerde station, Germany, Wednesday, Aug.24, 2022.In the fight against climate change, 14 hydrogen trains are to replace the current diesel trains. In Bremervoerde, a trial operation with two prototypes ran successfully between fall 2018 and February 2020.
The 14 trains use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity that powers the engines. The German government has backed expanding the use of hydrogen as a clean alternatives to fossil fuels.
State governor Stephan Weil said the 93 million euro ($92 million) project was an “excellent example” for Lower Saxony’s efforts to make its economy greener.
The trains manufactured by French company Alstom are operated by regional rail company LNVG on routes between the northern towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude.
Alstom says the Coradia iLint trains have a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and a maximum speed of 140 kph (87 mph). By using hydrogen produced with renewable energy the trains will save 1.6 million liters (more than 422,000 gallons) of diesel fuel a year.
The hydrogen is currently produced as a byproduct in chemical processes, but German specialty gas company Linde plans to manufacture it locally using only renewable energy within three years.
