New Delhi: In line with its "Green initiatives" to achieve zero carbon emission, Indian Railways has taken a leap forward by planning to operate its 1600 HP 10-coach DEMU trains on hydrogen fuel cell. Its has also invited bids for hydrogen fuel cell-based technology by retrofitting on DEMU in the 89-km Sonipat-Jind section of the Northern Railway.
The Ministry of Railways stated that it will be done by converting/retrofitting existing DEMU rakes. Initially, two DEMU rakes will be converted and later two hybrid narrow gauge locos will be converted based on hydrogen fuel cell power movement.
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"Loco pilot will not face any problem as there will be no change in the driving console," the Railways said in a statement.
The bidding date for hydrogen fuel cell-based DEMU rake will start from September 21, 2021, and close on October 5, 2021. A pre-bid conference has also been organised on August 17, 2021.
Railways sets eyes on hydrogen powered trains The retrofitting of diesel-powered DEMU and converting it into hydrogen fuel powered train set will save costs to the tune of Rs 2.3 crore annually. It is also an eco-friendly move of Railways as it will save the carbon footprint (NO2) of 11.12 kilo tons per annum and particulates matter of 0.72 kilo tons per annum.It must be noted that after the conversion, the hydrogen fuel-based trains will be the greenest mode of transport as hydrogen can be generated by electrolysing water from solar energy. "After the successful implementation of this pilot project, all the rolling stock which will operate on diesel fuel after electrification, can be planned to run on hydrogen fuel," the Railways said.India is among those few countries which have used this method of power generation. Before this, trial of one rake was being conducted in Germany and one in Poland.This is a part of the National Hydrogen Energy Mission, according to the recent budgetary announcements, and will kick off the concept of hydrogen mobility in India. It is the purest form of green energy utilisation with zero carbon emission. The Railways has aimed to make itself carbon free by 2030.
