Indian Railways Organization of Alternate Fuel (IROAF), green fuel vertical of Indian Railways, has invited the bids for hydrogen fuel cell-based train on railways network. The project shall commence in 89km Sonipat-Jind section of northern Railway. “Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries” and “National Hydrogen Mission” are two flagship programs of Government of India so as to meet out the targets of reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emission under Paris Climate Agreement 2015 and “Mission Net Zero Carbon Emission Railway” by 2030. Accordingly, there has been recent budgetary pronouncement to kick off the concept of hydrogen mobility in the country.
Initially, 2 DEMU rakes will be converted and later, 2 hybrid locos will be converted based on hydrogen fuel cell power movement. There will be no change in the driving console. Also, the project will lead to saving of Rs.2.3 cr. annually.
The sanctioned work under the project includes provision of fuel cell powered hybrid traction system for train application on 2 DEMU rakes, current pink book item No. 723 of 2021-22, and allocation during current year Rs. 8 crores. The two pre-bid conferences scheduled on 17/08/2021 and 09/09/2021 while the date of tender opening is 05/10/2021