State-run power equipment manufacturer BHEL plans to develop a railway locomotive that runs on hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity, a company filing said on September 5, as it announced a long-term MoU with Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.
A hydrogen fuel cell-based rolling stock uses on-board hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity and is a zero-emission alternative to diesel or electric trains. BHEL will be in a 10-year exclusive agreement with Horizon in an effort to create this new and domestic market segment.
BHEL has being working on plans to develop products and systems for the hydrogen value chain. "These opportunities complement BHEL’s strength in propulsion systems and electric locomotives, allowing to further expand footprint in the railway sector," BHEL has said in the past. The PSU has been working with OEMs to target upcoming businesses, especially of high horsepower and battery or hydrogen-powered locomotives, along with high-speed trains.
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies is a Singapore-based company founded in 2003 and makes hydrogen fuel cells for a range of applications, including heavy-duty transportation.
The Indian Railways' modernization and infrastructure upgrade are a major opportunity for BHEL, as it aims to offer more powerful locomotives, trainsets, signaling systems, and other rail technologies.
A hydrogen fuel cells converts hydrogen into electricity, generating only water vapor and heat as byproducts, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus offering a sustainable option for long-distance transportation.
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