Zero Emission Rail Freight Power

The UK Minister for Transport has announced the ambition to remove all diesel only trains off the track by 2040. This presents technical challenges to the UK rail network where only ~42% of the 20,000-miles is electrified, particularly for freight trains. There are about 850 freight locomotives in regular service in the UK moving 19 billion tonne kilometers in 2016-17. Rail freight is currently low emission, ~1/4 of the CO2 of road freight. In order to maintain and increase the amount of rail freight carried the industry must develop zero emission traction solutions to avoid transfer to other transport modes such as zero emission HGVs. Steamology are developing innovative hydrogen-based power generation and storage products that deliver zero emission power solutions when connected to Renewable Energy (RE). The SBRI rail demonstrations: first of a kind grant will enable the application of this technology to Theme1: environmental sustainability: The project team will be able to tackle the key competition priorities of: • Low carbon freight • Energy generation and storage solutions • Low emission self-powered vehicles • Improved air quality in enclosed spaces • Sustainable and recyclable materials that reduce whole-life carbon footprint • Reduction of noise from diesel engines and wheels Steamology is an innovative technology development company with an extreme engineering pedigree and a land speed record breaking heritage. Founded to commercially exploit the technology legacy from a successful world record attempt and to explore the potential of novel clean green renewable hydrogen steam power generation. Steamology has a proven record in delivering complex functioning systems. At the heart of the W2W (Water to Water) system is a compact energy dense steam generator. Steam is generated using energy stored as compressed hydrogen and oxygen gas in tanks. High pressure superheated steam is used to drive a turbine to do useful work. This system will provide an innovative power train for freight locomotive rolling stock. The zero-emission steam turbine can be manufactured as a diesel engine replacement for existing rail freight locomotives. The turbines are low noise helping the expansion of urban and late night freight operations Renewable Energy, RE, is used to power electrolysis to generate the hydrogen and oxygen gas and to compress the gas into storage tanks. The W2W closed cycle is emission free, producing no carbon, NOX SOX emissions in a repeatable cycle without charging losses. Steamology adopt a ‘Cradle to Cradle’ approach to design. This means not using rare earth or toxic materials or exotic manufacturing processes allowing products with simplified service, maintenance and long service life.