India, a developing country, has taken another step towards development with the decision to launch a hydrogen train. Its trial period is all set to begin in December 2024. Indian Railways announced launching the train to eliminate air pollution and make it a more sustainable transportation option. Furthermore, the trial will cover the Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana with a distance coverage of 90 kilometres per hour. The expected maximum speed is about 140 km/h and can travel up to 1000 kilometres in one fuelling.
Moreover, if the trial succeeds, the Indian Railway will launch 35 more hydrogen trains. Unlike ordinary trains, it will not operate on diesel. Instead, the train will operate on hydrogen fuel cells that will generate electricity which emits water vapour for propulsion. The cells mix with the oxygen-generated electricity causing zero harmful outgassing. Hydrogen trains will produce 60% less noise pollution than other trains.
How Does Hydrogen Train Work?
Hydrogen tanks have a hydrogen storage cylinder to store the compressed hydrogen gas. From the storage cylinder, the hydrogen passes to a fuel cell container, where the hydrogen reacts with the oxygen. Moreover, the reaction generates electricity and water vapour. This process does not emit any harmful gases. The generated electricity powers the electric motor, which makes the train run. Fuel cells do not generate electricity constantly. They only produce electricity when the motors require it. A battery is used to regulate this and provide a constant supply to the motors.
Countries Using Hydrogen Trains
India is soon to join Germany, France, Sweden, and China and become the fifth country in the world to have hydrogen trains. In August 2022, Germany launched the World’s first hydrogen train, The Alstom Coradia iLint. After a few months of Germany’s introduction to Alstom hydrogen trains, China also launched Asia’s first zero-emission train. On February 1, 2023, France launched its train to make the environment eco-friendly for rail travel. The train launched in Östersund, Sweden in late 2023.
Advantages
1. Zero harmful emission
The trains have zero harmful emissions as the train uses fuel cells to supply power. The cells along with hydrogen content stored in the train combinely produced energy. Furthermore, no harmful emission occurs in this process.
2. Easy Production
Producing hydrogen is easy using renewable energy, such as fossil fuels, biomass, and water electrolysis with electricity. To produce hydrogen, using Steam methane reforming is one of the most beneficial methods.
3. No noise pollution
In comparison to diesel trains, hydrogen trains do not produce noise. Diesel trains produce noise due to combustion but zero-emission trains use fuel cells. These cells convert the hydrogen and oxygen into electricity to work.
Disadvantages
1. Water Scarcity
According to the reports, the Indian railways are installing 40,000-liter water tank on the engine to generate hydrogen. If the trial succeeds, 35 more trains will launch which means each train will use 40,000 litres of water every hour. If added altogether, hydrogen trains will consume 3.36 crore litres of water daily. This situation can accelerate water scarcity.
2. Highly Expensive
The estimated manufacturing cost of one hydrogen train is Rs. 80 crores. If Indian railways launch 35 more trains it can cost Rs. 2.8 billion. Moreover, the hydrogen train uses “green hydrogen” which is extracted from renewable sources only, therefore, it can be expensive.
3. Difficult to handle
Managing diesel is easy as it is liquid and can be contained in any container. But, handling hydrogen gas is challenging because it has a low volumetric energy density. It requires high compression and storage at high pressures.
How to Overcome Hydrogen Train’s Disadvantages?
Countries like Germany and France are working towards dealing with the disadvantages by investing in hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. Scientists are working on improving the technology related to hydrogen-fueling cells to reduce the implementation cost. Furthermore, many countries are testing the hydrogen trains on other rail lines. India should focus on storing hydrogen on onboard trains safely. The government support would be beneficial for promoting and exporting of green hydrogen.
Bottom Line
Indian Railway is soon to release a hydrogen train and its trial will start in December 2024. The hydrogen train will be beneficial for the environment as it will emit zero harmful gases. Hydrogen production is easy by using renewable resources. Due to no internal combustion, the trains will not cause noise pollution. But, it can cause water scarcity because trains heavily rely on water. After the trial success, the Indian railway will launch 35 such trains for an eco-friendly environment.
Germany, France, Sweden, and China have hydrogen trains and by the end of december 2024,
India will become fifth country to have the train.
Haryana is the city which is launching India’s first hydrogen train. The train will cover the Jind-Sonipat route with distance coverage of 90 kilometres per hour.
The hydrogen train works on the concept of hydrogen fuel cells, which makes it different from the traditional diesel trains.
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