Environment & Energy

nitpicker

(7,153 posts) Tue Sep 18, 2018, 01:56 AM Sep 2018

World's first hydrogen train rolls out in Germany

https://www.dw.com/en/worlds-first-hydrogen-train-rolls-out-in-germany/a-45525062

World's first hydrogen train rolls out in Germany

Date 17.09.2018

A French-made hydrogen train took its first scheduled from the station of Bremervörde in Lower Saxony on Monday, marking a world first for the new transport technology. Two Coradia iLint engines will replace diesel trains on the 100-kilometer (62-mile) route linking the towns of Cuxhaven and Buxtehude, with 14 other hydrogen trains set to be introduced across the state by 2021. The new-type engines are produced by the French company Alstom.
(snip)

The new trains carry a hydrogen tank and fuel cells on the roof, and produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Excess energy is stored in ion lithium batteries. The engines can run for around 1,000 kilometers without refueling and reach a maximum speed 140 kilometers per hour (87 miles per hour), similar to diesel trains.

However, unlike the older machines, hydrogen trains produce only steam and liquid water. The manufacturers claim that the new trains are also quieter and less costly to operate.
(snip)

4 replies

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Highlight:

World's first hydrogen train rolls out in Germany (Original Post) nitpicker Sep 2018 OP

Thank God Delarage Sep 2018 #1

Just curious.. Does anyone know how the hydrogen defacto7 Sep 2018 #2

Another German Thermodynamic nightmare. NNadir Sep 2018 #3

The article says they expect this to be cheaper than diesel - the main motivation caraher Sep 2018 #4

Delarage

(2,186 posts)

1. Thank God

Reply to nitpicker (Original post)

Tue Sep 18, 2018, 04:15 AM

Sep 2018

Some countries take the environment seriously. Meanwhile,
"Trump Digs Coal"

defacto7

(13,485 posts)

2. Just curious.. Does anyone know how the hydrogen

Reply to nitpicker (Original post)

Tue Sep 18, 2018, 11:31 AM

Sep 2018

and the fuel cells are produced?

NNadir

(33,525 posts)

3. Another German Thermodynamic nightmare.

Reply to nitpicker (Original post)

Tue Sep 18, 2018, 12:58 PM

Sep 2018

When are people finally get it through their heads that electricity produced by dangerous fossil fuels and hydrogen produced by dangerous fossil fuels waste energy and are actually dirtier than fossil fuels themselves?

Never, I think. We march stupidly into the future.

caraher

(6,278 posts)

4. The article says they expect this to be cheaper than diesel - the main motivation

Reply to nitpicker (Original post)

Tue Sep 18, 2018, 03:39 PM

Sep 2018

An older article acknowledges that even if the hydrogen comes from electrolysis, the environmental impact will be worse than diesel, at least for a few years:

Alstom anticipates that operating costs will be comparable to diesel units. The environmental footprint of the trainsets will depend on how the hydrogen is produced; under Germany's current electricity generating mix and electrolysis produces an unfavourable comparison to diesel, but the generating mix predicted for 2020 would make the hydrogen greener, Schrank said.

But it sounds like for the time being, they're not even using grid electricity for electrolysis, which means they're almost certainly using hydrogen produced from methane reformation:

Nevertheless, there’s still the question of how trains will be refuelled and where the hydrogen will come from in the long term. Alstom has pledged that it will make things easier for operators by providing maintenance services and hydrogen infrastructure – in particular, filling stations – alongside its partners.

The company is currently looking to green methods to produce fuel for iLint. One existing example is electrolysis, which involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen i.e. the iLint formula in reverse. Another is natural gas reformation, which involves combining methane contained in natural gases with high-temperature steam. Regardless, the company aims to mitigate CO2 emissions from hydrogen production through the use of wind energy.

As part of the deal, Alstom will provide maintenance for the trains over a 30-year period. Meanwhile, leading gas company Linde will supply hydrogen for the new trains and erect the first-ever hydrogen filling station for trains in Bremervörde. The plan is that hydrogen will be produced onsite via electrolysis and wind energy at a later stage of the project.

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