Hydrogen as sustainable option for non-electrified rail lines: preliminary analysis on the supply chain development

Currently, 60% of Europe's rail network is electrified, carrying 80% of total rail traffic. However, non-electrified lines still rely on highly polluting diesel-fuelled trains. Since electrified rail systems are the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, the logical strategy to reduce carbon emissions in this sector would be to expand electrification. While there are no technical barriers to further electrification, in principle, the costs of such an upgrade are significant, and an effective alternative to diesel-fuelled trains must be found. In this context, green hydrogen is emerging as an interesting option to enhance the sustainability of non-electrified railway lines. In this study, the hydrogen demand of a train fleet operating on an existing non-electrified line is first evaluated as a selected case study, assessing their energy and fuel requirements as well as operational constraints. A dedicated hydrogen refueling station design is subsequently proposed, modeled, and analyzed to assess its technical feasibility, infrastructure requirements, and integration within the existing rail network. The proposed station configuration features a multi-tank buffer storage at 550 bar and a low-pressure storage at 200 bat, and it is intended to serve fuel cell electric trains equipped with on-board storage systems operating at 350 bar nominal pressure. Hydrogen is supplied to the station by an electrolzyer and tube trailers making daily deliveries. The results of this analysis provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of hydrogen-powered rail transport, offering valuable insights for the practical deployment of hydrogen technologies in this sector.