Member of the Smart Hydrogen Energy Science and Innovation Centre hydrogen solutions company OÜ Stargate Hydrogen has signed a letter of intent with AS Operail, the international rail company, to convert diesel-electric locomotives to zero-emission fuel cell electric locomotives.
As part of the retrofit, the diesel gensets that power the locomotives will be replaced by a zero-emission powertrain consisting of polymer-electrolyte-membrane fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. After the conversion, the locomotives will operate as shunting locomotives.
The partnership with Operail is planned in two phases. Initially, a prototype of a fuel cell electric locomotive will be constructed by the end of 2022. In the second phase of the project, the parties intend to convert an additional 40 locomotives to fuel cell power. Each converted locomotive will save 370 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, equivalent to the annual emissions of 80 average passenger cars.
The Smart Hydrogen Energy Science and Innovation Centre unites such scientific institutes, universities and companies as the Latvian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Physical Energy, the Institute of Solid State Physics of the University of Latvia, the Latvian University of Agriculture, Latvenergo AS, Ventspils nafta terminals SIA, Jelgava Bus Park SIA, Virši-A AS, Siemens Energy Global GmbH & CO, Worthington Cylinders GmbH, Ballard Power Systems Europe, Stargate Hydrogen OÜ, MRK Serviss SIA, SIA Trezors, SIA Intra-GT, Naco Technologies SIA. The centre is supported by the Latvian Wind Energy Association, the Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the University of Aberdeen, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments and Hydrogen Europe.
