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INDUSTRY FOCUS
RAIL HEADING TEXT Standfirst
ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR HYDROGEN POWER
To meet the need for a climate-friendly rail industry, Deutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility have developed a ‘next-generation’
hydrogen-power train which is as powerful as its electric multiple-unit counterpart, and a new method for fast refuelling
D
eutsche Bahn (DB) and Siemens Mobility are helping to drive the move to climate- friendly rail transportation with their
H2goesRail project. The two partners have in fact premiered elements of their innovative complete system at the Siemens plant in Krefeld: The newly developed Mireo Plus H – the next-generation hydrogen-powered train – and a newly designed mobile hydrogen storage trailer. The train and its new infrastructure are intended to replace diesel multiple-unit trains in commuter and regional transport and
reduce rail-related CO2 emissions to zero. “Only with a strong rail system and alternative
types of drives will we be able to make a significant contribution to the fight against climate change. The Mireo Plus H enables climate-friendly and emission-free passenger transport,” commented Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility. “With the Mireo Plus H, we’ve developed the next generation of hydrogen- powered trains that offers a particularly long operating range and faster acceleration. Each
delivered train can save up to 45,000 tons of CO2 over its service life of 30 years compared to corresponding travel with cars.” Dr. Daniela Gerd tom Markotten, member of
the Management Board for Digitalisation and Technology at Deutsche Bahn, added: “With our development of the mobile hydrogen filling station and the related maintenance infrastructure, we are showing that we can not only do mobility, but technology as well. And
4 DESIGN SOLUTIONS JUNE 2022 2
that is exactly what is needed for providing the climate-friendly transport of tomorrow. Together with Siemens and the newly developed hydrogen train, we are creating an overall system which will take us another step towards phasing out diesel and enable the greening of the fleet.”
H2GOESRAIL The joint funding project is officially called ‘H2goesRail’. As a two-car train, the Mireo Plus H has an operating range of up to 800km, is as powerful as its electric multiple-unit counterpart, has 1.7 MW of traction power providing up to 1.1 m/s2
acceleration, and a top
speed of 160km/hr. A three-car version has a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. One key element needed to make hydrogen
technology competitive with diesel fuel in daily operation is a fast refueling process. To provide this, DB has developed a new method that, for the first time, enables a hydrogen train to be refueled as fast as a diesel-powered train. Hydrogen trains have a particularly climate-
friendly drive technology, since they operate emission-free with green hydrogen and emit only water vapour. In the H2goesRail project, for example, the hydrogen train will save hundreds
of tons of CO2 in one year on the Tübingen- Pforzheim route, when compared to a diesel- powered train. In general, the Mireo Plus H can save 520 tons a year depending on the route profile (calculated on mileage of 200,000km). The hydrogen will be produced in Tübingen
by DB using green electricity taken directly from the overhead power line. To service the train, the DB maintenance depot in Ulm will be equipped accordingly. The Mireo Plus H will start testing in Baden-
Württemberg in 2023. After completing a test phase, the train will enter passenger service between Tübingen, Horb and Pforzheim in 2024. Approximately 120,000 kilometers of scheduled rail service are planned. The route is particularly suitable for the tests, with typical regional service frequency and topography. By replacing a diesel-powered train used on this route, the Mireo Plus H from Siemens Mobility
will save around 330 tons of CO2 yearly. The drivers will be specially trained on the train and will operate it in passenger service.
HYDROGEN PROPULSION In hydrogen drive systems using fuel cell technology, the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen produces electricity and the ‘waste product’ water. These trains can be used by DB as a way to become climate-neutral by replacing its diesel-powered trains with alternative drive systems. To ensure the solution is truly ecofriendly, green electricity is used to produce the environmentally friendly green hydrogen. DB Energy is responsible for supplying the hydrogen.
Siemens Mobility
www.siemens.com/mobility
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