Hydrogen train can explode like a time bomb! Thousands of tons of coal will turn into ashes in making this green energy.

New Delhi: It is more than 200 years since the world’s first railway line opened in 1825. At that time, coal-fired steam engines connected two cities in the north of England. After two centuries, the rail industry has now largely moved away from coal. Today modern trains run on diesel and electric engines. In the new era, there is talk of stability along with development, in such a situation, railway engines are focusing more on electricity and hydrogen as energy sources. The process of running hydrogen trains has also started in India, which is also called hydrail. But, what is the dark truth behind the green energy which is being called so green? Understand the challenges of hydrogen energy.

How electricity is generated from hydrogen fuel cell, understand here

Hydrogen fuel cells combine with oxygen to generate electricity, the only by-products of which are steam and water. The result is zero carbon emissions. For this, there is a combustion engine in the hydrogen fuel cell. It generates electricity after a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction takes place through two electrodes – first a negative anode and second positive cathode. Hydrogen acts as fuel when it combines with oxygen. It is during this union that electrical energy is generated. Along with this water and heat also come out.

Hydrogen energy a dangerous option for trains

According to Steve Baker, a senior software engineer working in Britain’s Railway Department, hydrogen is a dangerous alternative to energy for trains. Generally, most hydrogen is made through ‘steam reformation’ technology. In this process of steam generation, a lot of water is wasted and fossil fuels like coal are used. In this process, carbon dioxide is produced from diesel fuel. This could make global warming worse. It is stored in tanks under such high pressure that there is a danger of it exploding like a time bomb.

A lot of energy is wasted in the electrolysis process.

Steve Baker says that another way to make hydrogen is by electrolysis of water. Water contains one molecule of oxygen along with two molecules of hydrogen. A large amount of electricity is used to make it, which is generated from fossil fuels only. A lot of energy is wasted in this and fossil fuels which harm the environment are also used indiscriminately. This is not a good way to make trains with zero carbon emissions.

These things will have to be done before running hydrogen power trains

Running electric trains is much cheaper and more efficient. The biggest issue to run hydrogen power train is to make catenary cable. To run hydrogen fuel based trains, all the locomotives will need to be replaced. In addition, hydrogen storage/filling stations will have to be built along the train track. Hydrogen pipelines will have to be added everywhere. Most diesel locomotives in the world are actually diesel-electric. That is, they use diesel engines to generate electricity which runs electric motors. It is like a hybrid car. To be electric, such a train simply has to take power from the overhead cable.

These are the challenges in the way of giving power to trains

There is still more improvement to be done for fuel cell technology. Also, reducing the weight of the fuel cell and increasing the capacity will also be a big challenge. Fuel cells convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity. This is the reverse of the electrolysis process used to make hydrogen fuel. A large amount of energy is lost during this process. Due to this, the capacity of such fuel cells reduces by 30 percent. This electricity is passed through a motor, which provides power to the train to run.

Who called hydrogen rail as hydrail?

The term hydrail was first mentioned by AT&T strategic planner Stan Thompson, who gave the speech ‘The Mooresville Hydrel Initiative’ at the US Department of Transportation’s Volpe Transportation System Center. The term hydrail first appeared in print when Stan Thompson and Jim Bowman used it for hydrogen rail in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy on 17 February 2004.

World’s first hydral runs in Germany

The world’s first hydrogen-powered train was launched in Germany on September 16, 2018. This train was built by the French company Alstom. This train runs on a 62 mile long line in northern Germany. In this case, apart from Germany, Japan, China and Britain, hydrogen trains are also running at limited levels in America. In India too, such trains are expected to run by 2025.

Hydrogen will have to be stored in gas or liquid form.

To use hydrogen as fuel, it first has to be stored in gas or liquid form. Storing hydrogen in gas form typically requires high pressure tanks (350–700 bar). Storing hydrogen in liquid form requires cryogenic temperatures. It burns as soon as it comes in contact with air. In such a situation, even a small spark or leakage in the tank can cause a big explosion.

The technology to obtain hydrogen is very expensive

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the entire universe and can be isolated from seawater. However, the technology used to obtain hydrogen is quite expensive. To obtain hydrogen energy, steam is created, in the process of which harmful fossil fuels like coal and wood are used. At the same time, there is no carbon emission in renewable energy like sun and wind.

Such an expensive process that it requires investment.

Unlike natural gas or diesel fuel, hydrogen fuel made from electrolysis produces almost zero emissions. At the same time, hydrogen made from the steam process still produces 45% less emissions than diesel trains. However, this process is so expensive that it will require substantial investment in its production and distribution network.

Up to 80 percent more expensive than electric trains

According to a German study, hydrogen trains could be 80% more expensive than electric trains. A study by VDE found that battery electric multiple units (BEMUs) can be up to 35% less expensive to purchase and operate than hydrogen electric multiple units (HEMUs). The cost of hydrogen fuel cell for a passenger train can be around Rs 12 crore.

Where will the first hydrogen train run?

It is estimated to cost around Rs 80 crore to build each hydrogen train. The first hydrogen train is expected to run on the 90 km long Jind-Sonipat route in Haryana. Along with this, 35 hydrogen trains are also expected to be run by 2025 on routes like Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Nilgiri Mountain Railway and Kalka-Shimla Railway.

Swiss hydrogen train sets world record

In March this year, Swiss company Stadler created a world record by running a train running on hydrogen. This train named FLIRT-H2 had created a new Guinness World Record after traveling 1,741 miles or 2,803 km non-stop for 46 hours. This achievement was achieved during testing in Colorado, USA.

Why is India starting hydrail?

India had signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 and a major objective of this agreement is to reduce CO2 emissions. This is the reason why Indian Railways has established the Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway by 2030. The mission aims to completely eliminate its CO2 producing component.

Comfortable, safe and clean journey

It is not that hydrogen fuel has any dangers. If some important hurdles are overcome, it can become an important energy source for the next generation trains. Once the structure is ready for hydrogen trains, it will prove to be magic for comfortable, safe and clean travel of the future generations.