Railway System Takes Action: Locomotives Switch to Hydrogen Power, Key Piece of Hydrogen Energy Transportation System Falls into Place

Recently, the National Railway Administration organized the compilation of the "Administrative Regulations on the Renovation of Power Source Systems for Aging Railway Diesel Locomotives" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"), and is now soliciting public opinions on the draft.

Article 3 of the Regulations clearly states that the renovation of the power source systems for aging railway diesel locomotives involves replacing the fossil fuel-based power systems of aging railway diesel locomotives with power systems such as "diesel engine + power battery system," "power battery system," and "hydrogen fuel cell system + power battery system," which offer superior energy efficiency and emission levels.

With the introduction of these Regulations, the railway system has finally initiated a transformation towards hydrogen energy applications, following in the footsteps of the highway, low-altitude aviation, and waterway sectors! The key piece of the hydrogen energy transportation system has fallen into place, and a comprehensive shift towards hydrogen energy substitution is becoming an inevitable trend.

The Inevitability of Applying Hydrogen Energy in Railways

1. An Inevitable Choice for Low-Carbon/Zero-Carbon Power Innovation

Aging diesel locomotives rely on fossil fuels for power, contributing to over 70% of the railway system's total carbon emissions. Hydrogen-powered locomotives, driven by electricity generated from fuel cells, produce only water as their byproduct and emissions. When paired with green hydrogen (produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy), they can achieve "zero-carbon operation" throughout their entire life cycle. The Mireo Plus H hydrogen fuel cell train, already in operation by Deutsche Bahn (DB), boasts a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometers and reduces emissions by over 90% compared to diesel locomotives, providing a reference for China's heavy-haul freight transportation and electrification renovation of remote railway lines.

2. Breaking Geographical Limitations in Railway Energy Supply

Railway electrification requires the installation of overhead catenary systems. Given China's vast territory and complex geographical environments, including mountainous regions, deserts, and gobi deserts, the construction of railway catenary systems poses significant challenges. Hydrogen-powered locomotives can be powered by onboard hydrogen storage tanks, eliminating the need for reliance on a fixed power grid. This makes them highly adaptable to regions in north-west and south-west China that are rich in renewable energy but have weak power grids. By utilizing locally produced renewable energy for hydrogen production, a closed-loop system of "local hydrogen production - locomotive hydrogen consumption" can be achieved, reducing the costs associated with long-distance electricity transmission.

Core Advantages of Hydrogen-Powered Locomotives

Hydrogen-powered locomotives possess three major advantages: strong driving range and payload capacities, robust environmental adaptability, and high energy replenishment efficiency.

Strong Driving Range and Payload Capacities: Hydrogen fuel cells have an energy density of 3-5kWh/kg and high overall energy efficiency. Hydrogen energy of the same volume can provide locomotives with longer-lasting power supply and higher-power output, enhancing their driving range and payload capacities, making them suitable for long-haul freight transportation.

Robust Environmental Adaptability: The design of hydrogen fuel cells combined with insulated hydrogen storage tanks enables the locomotive's power system to operate under a wide range of conditions, adapting to various external climatic conditions and geographical environments.

High energy replenishment efficiency: Hydrogen-powered locomotives have a short refueling time, which can be completed within a few minutes. Compared to the several hours required for charging, this is more suitable for the "high-capacity and high-speed" demands of trunk railways.

Enhancing the economic efficiency of hydrogen refueling stations

The retrofitting of hydrogen-powered locomotives can drive profound changes in the existing hydrogen energy industry system. The certainty of railway routes and the stability of hydrogen consumption are advantages not found in other scenarios, allowing for unified planning and construction. Sharing hydrogen refueling stations with hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen-powered rail transit systems can achieve "synchronized hydrogen network operations," expand the market size of applications, and reduce infrastructure construction costs. This will further enhance the economic efficiency of hydrogen refueling station construction and operation, helping hydrogen refueling stations gain greater development space in the energy market.

Dual value of "transportation revolution + energy security"

1. Carbon reduction and quality improvement, optimized energy use

The application of hydrogen energy power systems will gradually reduce the railway system's reliance on fossil fuels, marking a transformation in the energy structure of railway locomotives. With the development of hydrogen application technologies and power technologies, hydrogen-powered railway locomotives will complement the end-use applications of hydrogen energy in the transportation sector, driving a broader national transportation energy revolution.

2. Reshaping the energy transportation landscape

Hydrogen-powered locomotives can transform the "West-to-East Electricity Transmission" into "West-to-East Hydrogen Transportation," significantly expanding the range of hydrogen energy transportation through the railway system. Compared to ultra-high-voltage power transmission, the integrated energy conversion efficiency of hydrogen energy production, storage, and transportation is higher, and it can avoid energy waste caused by long-distance power transmission losses (approximately 6-8% for ultra-high-voltage power transmission).

The railway system is a super scenario for hydrogen energy applications. The hydrogenation retrofitting of old locomotive power systems has already sent positive signals. Once hydrogen energy is applied on a large scale in railway locomotives, the market demand for hydrogen energy will grow rapidly, inevitably leading to profound changes in the entire industry chain of hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and utilization.