India Takes a Giant Leap Towards Sustainable Transport With Green Hydrogen-Powered Trains

New Delhi, March 15, 2023 - The Indian Railways has made significant strides towards building an environmentally friendly rail network with its pursuit of green hydrogen-powered trains. As part of the government's ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions and achieve energy independence by 2047 and net-zero goals by 2070, India is setting a new standard in sustainable transportation.

The Ministry of Railways has announced the "Hydrogen for Heritage" project, aimed at introducing 35 hydrogen fuel cell trains on various heritage and hill routes, with an estimated cost of ₹160 crore. The pilot project, worth ₹12,000 crore, will see existing Diesel-Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) rakes being retrofitted with green hydrogen fuel cells.

The India-made locomotive engine, powered by the country's indigenous technology, boasts 1200 horsepower - twice that of other hydrogen engines globally. The Research, Design, and Standard Organisation (RDSO) in Lucknow has developed this powerful home-grown engine, showcasing India's innovative approach to addressing complex rail travel challenges.

A massive investment of ₹2,800 crore will be made towards developing 35 hydrogen fuel cell trains, with an additional €600 million earmarked for related hydrogen energy infrastructure. The cost per train is expected to be around Rs 80 crores, while ground infrastructure development costs Rs 60 crore per route.

The project's first trial run on the Jind-Sonipat section of the Northern Railway in Haryana is set to commence by March 2025. Germany's Alstom Coradia iLint green hydrogen-powered train has already taken the commercial service route, while other countries like Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and France have successfully demonstrated green hydrogen trains.

Experts expect significant returns in terms of environmental benefits and cost savings, as India will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and minimize carbon footprint. The project also underscores the government's commitment to achieving net-zero goals by 2070 through its National Green Hydrogen Mission.

With international developments backing up its pursuit of clean rail transportation, India is poised to set a new benchmark for sustainable transportation systems. As the Indian Railways progresses with green hydrogen-powered trains, the nation takes a step closer to achieving energy independence and emission-free mobility.

Additional Key Highlights:

• The first test run on the Jind-Sonipat section is expected to begin by March 2025.
• Firms contracted to develop ground-level infrastructure are working towards successful pilot runs after system integration.
• India aims to produce five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030 and has earmarked a strategic €17,490 crore for the SIGHT programme.
• The European countries have placed orders for 41 hydrogen train sets from Alstom, signifying global interest in cleaner rail transport.

Sources:

All relevant information and data mentioned above were retrieved from reliable online sources during our research process. No further details are available at this point of time.