Lhyfe Advocates for Hydrogen-Powered Trains on Optimal Routes

EUROPE: Hydrogen-powered trains are emerging as a cost-effective alternative to traditional electrification, especially on less-trafficked routes, says Matthieu Guesné, the CEO of Lhyfe, a green hydrogen company.

Lhyfe is positioning itself to be a key supplier of green hydrogen for both transportation and industrial applications. Their hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources.

The firm recently set up a hydrogen production facility in Tübingen, Germany, with an annual capacity of 30 tonnes for DB Energie. This initiative is part of the H2goesRail project aimed at creating an integrated system for producing and refueling regional trains. The hydrogen generated here was used in trials with Siemens Mobility’s fuel cell train model Mireo Plus H, utilizing electricity from DB’s diverse renewable energy portfolio including wind and solar.

“We support electrification wholeheartedly,” Guesné shared with Railway Gazette International, “but the price tag for electrifying tracks can hit around €2 million per kilometer.” He pointed out that establishing a hydrogen refueling station could match that cost effectively.

The decreasing prices of hydrogen trains have led Guesné to suggest that there are specific routes where opting for hydrogen makes more sense than going electric.Factors like route length and traffic patterns will influence this decision; he believes that while lightly used regional lines could benefit from this technology,it wouldn’t be practical for high-speed rail services.