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The Indian Railways has issued a tender for the operation of trains using a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell and battery-based technology as part of its efforts to reduce pollution and fuel costs.

Initially, it intends to convert two diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) rakes on Northern Railway’s 89-kilometer Sonipat-Jind stretch using hydrogen power.

The Indian Railways first intend to convert diesel-powered trains on the Northern Railway’s 89-kilometer Sonipat-Jind segment to run on hydrogen. The hydrogen fuel cell retrofit kit, which includes the balance-of-plant, energy storage, and hydrogen storage modules, will be used to replace the existing powertrain components onboard 1,600 horsepower diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) rakes.

The hydrogen fuel cell conversion kit, which includes the balance-of-plant, energy storage, and hydrogen storage modules, will be used to replace the existing powertrain components onboard 1,600HP DEMUs.

According to the operational requirements of a 1,600 HP DEMU, the power train should consist of 800 kW PEMFC hydrogen fuel cell-based power stacks (ideally in multiples of 100/150/200 kW), complemented by a 400 kW secondary energy source (battery bank). The battery bank must be lithium-ion rechargeable. However, other battery types may be accepted if they provide a higher energy and power density, a longer life cycle, and so on. The scope of work includes the design, supply, retrofit, testing, and field trials of fuel cell and battery-based power stack modules, hydrogen storage, power electronics/controls, and associated equipment, as well as the necessary engineering and supervision work, for hydrogen uses in refueling stations.

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Arnes Biogradlija is the founder and Editor in Chief of EnergyNews.biz, which he launched in 2021 to separate energy transition realities from fairy tales. He writes data driven analysis on hydrogen, energy storage, small modular reactors, grids and industrial policy, and leads the Energy Talks interview series. EnergyNews.biz reporting has been cited more than 100 times by the International Energy Agency.

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