Hydrogen train

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Renewable hydrogens are set to play a key role in the transition to a decarbonized economy, thanks to its multiple applications in industry, and most of all, in mobility. 

In 1992, Spain started modernizing itself rapidly. Today, 30 years later, the sector is preparing for a new leap into the future with the development of renewable-hydrogen powered trains, which are emerging as the most viable and efficient alternative for train track sections that have not yet been electrified.

In this sector, it won't be used just in cars. Today, there are projects aimed at using it in means of transportation that cover long distances such as airplanes, ships, trucks, and in trains.  

In the railway sector, renewable hydrogen, in addition to reducing emissions, will bring major benefits: Trains will be able to run without having to electrify the entire rail network, something that would be virtually impossible due to such high costs. In Spain, for example, experts estimate that each kilometer of track would cost an average of half a million euros.

But, how do hydrogen trains work?

Basically, they are electric trains that run on energy obtained from fuel cells. Inside the fuel cell, a chemical reaction occurs where hydrogen is combined with oxygen, resulting in an electric current and water. In other words, these trains are able to produce the electricity they need and only produce water and steam as waste.

To do so, the hydrogen used must be renewable, i.e., produced without CO2 emissions from solar or wind power. As Emilio García, director of Innovation at Talgo, points out, "The advantage of using hydrogen in rail transportation is that it's an emission-free alternative and, as such, reduces the carbon footprint."

Image of train tracks

How a hydrogen train works

  1. Tanks that store renewable hydrogen.
  2. The hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity from a combination of hydrogen and oxygen.
  3. Lithium batteries store any excess energy.
  4. The train is powered by an electric motor.

Hydrogen goes full steam ahead in Spain

Hydrogen trains have been making headway for some time in Europe, where 40% of the 80,000 kilometers of railway track are not yet electrified. 

There’s a lot of history behind the development of this technology worldwide. Its origins date back to 2002, in Canada, but it was not until 2006 that the first hydrogen train was launched in Japan, where strong development has been experiences in this field.

In 2018, the French corporation Alstom successfully led the way, when it put the world's first hydrogen cell-powered commercial passenger train into service in Germany. Alstom will be in charge of launching fleets of these trains in France and Italy.

The European Commission's objective is for 20% of the trains currently running on diesel to be running on renewable hydrogen by the end of this decade. Spain is expected to be the model example of sustainable rail transportation: The Hydrogen Roadmap approved by the government aims to have at least two lines of commercial trains powered by renewable hydrogen running by 2030.

Talgo and Repsol have teamed up to develop the first dual hydrogen-electric train, the Talgo Vittal-One, which will be ready in 2023.

Talgo and Repsol have one of the most innovative projects. The hydrogen tanks, fuel cells, and batteries have already been tested at the National Hydrogen Center, and this summer they will be assessed on the train itself, which will be an emission-free solution on medium-distance and commuter routes. It will operate on non-electrified railway lines, secondary routes covering connections between towns in Spain. Hydrogen refueling will be put in place on the non-electrified sections.

Talgo will be supplied by Repsol, which aims to lead the production of renewable hydrogen on the Iberian Peninsula by 2030 and "offer supply for various uses related to both mobility and industry," according to Tomás Malango, director of Hydrogen. Thanks to this partnership, renewable hydrogen trains will be an emission-free reality in Spain.

The use of hydrogen in trains is just one example of multiple applications in all areas of the economy of this sustainable gas, which can turn Spain into an energy powerhouse. According to Malango, "Spain has a great opportunity to become a key player in the European energy sector that is being built around hydrogen since it is the European Union country with most available renewable resources." In his opinion, the production of renewable hydrogen "for Spain, is the greatest opportunity for industrialization and energy relevance that our country has ever had".

The train that takes us to the future

The hydrogen train is getting closer to becoming a reality and making an active contribution to the fight against climate change. Spain has been able to confidently seize the great opportunity offered up by hydrogen and renewable energies to travel by train to an emission-free future.

 

Published in La Vanguardia