PTI
New Delhi
India’s first hydrogen-powered electric train marks a shift from depending on fossil fuels for an energy-intensive railways sector and aims to lower greenhouse-gas emissions, but is likely to play a niche role, given that most of the country’s broad-gauge network is already electrified, according to experts.
Hydrogen’s long-term contribution to India’s energy transition and climate goals will depend on whether affordable green hydrogen – which is produced using renewable electricity – is available and if it proves to be economically competitive for a specific route, the experts say.
India is set to get its first hydrogen-powered train on Friday, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the passenger service from Jind to Sonipat in Haryana. The 89-kilometre distance between the two cities will be covered in two hours, with the train halting at 12 intermediate stations.
A 1,200-kilowatt hydrogen-fuel-cell-propulsion system will power the 10-car trainset, which will operate at a maximum speed of 75 kilometres per hour, the Ministry of Railways said in a statement on Thursday.
“This milestone marks the latest chapter in the evolution of how Indian Railways has powered its trains, reflecting India’s broader journey from coal and steam to cleaner, more sustainable sources of energy,” it said.
“In simple terms, a hydrogen-fuel-cell-propulsion system works by combining hydrogen with oxygen from the air inside a fuel cell to produce electricity. This electricity powers the train’s motors,” Harpreet Singh Arora, professor at Shiv Nadar University’s school of engineering, told PTI.
“A hydrogen fuel cell train is essentially an electric train that generates its own electricity on board. Instead of drawing power from overhead lines, hydrogen stored in high-pressure tanks reacts with oxygen from the air inside a fuel cell to produce electricity,” explained Moushumi Mohanty, senior programme manager, electric mobility programme, at New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment.
The only direct emission from the fuel cell is water vapour, she added.
Hydrogen is considered a “clean fuel” since its burning produces no harmful pollutants, such as carbon dioxide, particulate matter, sulphur oxides or nitrogen oxides, typically released when fossil fuels are burned. The water vapour released from burning hydrogen remains in the atmosphere for a short period, eventually forming a part of the natural water cycle.
Hydrogen fuel for the train is “produced separately, compressed, transported to the refuelling station and filled into storage tanks on the train”, Mohanty told PTI.
An indigenous hydrogen storage-and-refuelling facility has been set up at Jind for the trainset, the statement said.
“The hydrogen-refuelling infrastructure consists of hydrogen production or supply facilities, compression systems, high-pressure storage tanks, dispensing equipment and safety systems. Hydrogen is compressed, typically to high pressures, stored on site and transferred into onboard tanks through specialised dispensing systems,” Mohanty said.
In safety features, the train and the refuelling plant are equipped with devices to detect hydrogen leaks and unusual heat, along with an automatic shut-off system capable of cutting off hydrogen supply on its own, without waiting for a person to react, the ministry statement said.
It added that the pilot’s cabin is specifically designed to keep the person safe, with a special mode that allows the train to be moved to safety in an emergency.
With the initiative, India enters a select league of nations, including Germany, France, China, the United States and Japan, that either have hydrogen trains active on specific routes or are exploring the fuel for a cleaner rail transportation. Germany pioneered the world’s first hydrogen train, which entered commercial service in 2018 in its Lower Saxony state.
