GS 3 – ENVIRONMENT
Indian Railways initiative
- Indian Railways is developing a hydrogen-powered train at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.
- The initiative is part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming to produce at least five million metric tonnes of green hydrogen per year.
- Target: Achieve net zero emissions by 2070.
- Pilot project: Trains between Jind (Haryana) and Sonipat (Haryana) using hydrogen fuel.
Technology involved
- Hydrogen is produced using a 1 MW polymer electrolyte membrane electrolyser that produces 430 kg of hydrogen daily.
- Hydrogen will be stored in fuel tanks on the train and converted to electricity via fuel cells powering the train’s motors.
- Electrolyser splits water into oxygen, protons, and electrons; protons are conducted to the cathode, where they combine with oxygen to form water and release energy.
- Membrane material: Nafion (fluoropolymer related to Teflon).
Energy efficiency
- Electrons are conducted through an external circuit, producing electricity.
- Water acts as both reactant and medium for electron transfer.
- Renewable sources like solar panels and wind turbines will supply power to the electrolyser.
Applications and benefits
- Hydrogen fuel reduces emissions and fossil fuel dependency.
- Hydrogen can be used in locomotives, microbial electrochemical cells, and agricultural waste treatment.
Challenges & research directions
- Expensive materials such as platinum, iridium, and cobalt are currently used in electrolyser catalysts.
- Research focuses on cheaper alternatives like nickel-based catalysts.
- Combining renewable energy sources and microbe-driven processes may reduce costs.