Feb 2, 2023BY: Bechu SBUDGET 2023: HYDROGEN TRAINS ARE COMING, CONFIRMS INDIAN RAILWAYS!
Budget 2023 & National Green Hydrogen Mission:
The FM underlined India's 'National Green Hydrogen Mission' to become carbon-free at the earliest.The budget declared an outlay of 19,000 crores to help achieve an annual production target of 5 MMT by 2030 for facilitating the net-zero target. Credit: Twitter
Budget 2023 & Indian Railways:
With Rs 2.41 lakh crore allotted by the finance ministry, Indian Railways has included hydrogen train production in its to-do list!Credit: Twitter
Coming soon: 'Made In India' hydrogen trains!
Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that India will launch its first indigenously made hydrogen train by December 2023. “It will be designed in India by our engineers. First, heritage circuits will be converted and later it will be expanded,” he said.Credit: Twitter
Baby steps:
The minister had earlier confirmed that the Indian Railways is making a prototype of the hydrogen fuel-based train at the Northern Railway workshop. The test run will take place on the Sonipat-Jind section in Haryana, reports said.Credit: Twitter
The 'Go-green' factor:
These trains run with the help of hydrogen fuel cells which convert hydrogen and oxygen which, in turn, produces the electricity needed to power the train’s motors.Credit: iStock
Why Hydrogen trains?
Hydrogen trains operate on hydrogen fuel cells. They are considered the 'green' substitute for conventional diesel engines.Credit: iStock
Why Hydrogen trains?
They do not emit harmful pollutants such as CO2, nitrogen oxides, or other particulate matter that add to air pollution.Credit: iStock
The challenge:
Hydrogen train development and production are costly. According to the research and ratings agency ICRA, green hydrogen costs around INR 492/kg in India. Due to this, the cost of operating a fuel cell-based hydrogen engine will be 27% higher than that of a diesel engine,the 'Financial Express' reported. Credit: Twitter