Alstom and Hynamics, the EDF Group’s hydrogen subsidiary, signed a partnership agreement to optimize hydrogen refueling of passenger trains. This collaboration will hasten the development of hydrogen trains while also shortening the time required to refuel them.
Already, the Alstom and Hynamics teams are working together on modeling, calculation, and simulation. This work, which notably mobilizes the skills and resources of “EDF Lab,” will then be tested beginning in 2022 on the electrolyser test platform at ‘EDF Lab Les Renardières,’ one of three Électricité de France R&D centers located in Écuelles (Seine-et-Marne). A hydrogen production station, a 450 bar compressor, and several storage racks will be mobilized to recreate the filling circuits at full scale and evaluate the equipment’s performance under optimal observation conditions.
Ultimately, the goal is to define an international refueling standard that will allow for the immobilization of hydrogen-powered trains during refueling, which is a major issue for both railway companies and passengers, while remaining compliant with current regulations and safety rules.
“This partnership will enable us to optimize the hydrogen distribution infrastructure and the rolling stock made available to operators. This is a project that presents many opportunities for the decarbonisation of transportation and the development of sustainable mobility”, the two groups emphasise.
