Within a month of launching its first hydrogen-powered train, Indian Railways is now looking for cheaper green hydrogen options to expand operations. Indian Railways is considering several measures to expand the pool of green hydrogen suppliers and bring down procurement expenses, including providing manufacturers with offtake assurances.According to official estimates, hydrogen trains had clocked more than 2,500 km of commercial operations by early August, after services began in mid-July this year.India currently has the world’s most powerful hydrogen train in operation and has also established a dedicated facility for manufacturing and supplying hydrogen for the train. The initial target is to deploy 35 hydrogen-powered trains on heritage routes, which generally include hilly stretches where railway electrification will not be feasible.
Cheaper green hydrogen in focus
“Green hydrogen supply costs need to come down to ensure wider adoption of hydrogen trains,” a senior official told ET, adding that multiple options were being evaluated.The government is already providing incentives for electrolyser manufacturing as well as green hydrogen production under a dedicated programme. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, backed by an outlay of Rs 17,490 crore through 2029-30, also seeks to create opportunities for exports.Also Read | Why India’s first hydrogen train is special – explainedIndia aims to establish 5 MMT (million metric tonne) of annual domestic green hydrogen production capacity by 2030. In February this year, the country achieved its lowest-ever discovered green hydrogen price of Rs 279 (around $3.08) per kg in a tender for supplying 10,000 tonnes a year to Numaligarh Refinery in Assam.Former Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said government incentives and lower-cost renewable power were helping support the price. “This milestone boosts cost competitiveness and marks rapid sector progress,” he said, adding that green hydrogen at $2/kg “is not a distant dream anymore.”
India’s Hydrogen Train: 10 Key Facts
India’s first hydrogen-powered train
PM Narendra Modi had last month flagged off India’s first hydrogen-powered train. The train uses hydrogen fuel cell technology to generate power. Hydrogen stored in onboard cylinders is combined with oxygen from the surrounding air inside a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell. This produces electricity to power the traction motors of the train without combustion, smoke or any direct carbon emissions. The only by-product is water vapour.Power is generated through two hydrogen driving power cars, each capable of producing 1,200 kW. The system is supported by lithium iron phosphate batteries and onboard hydrogen storage cylinders.Only a small number of countries currently operate or test hydrogen trains. Germany was the first to commercially operate hydrogen-powered passenger trains. China has also deployed such trains.Hydrogen trains around the world generally consist of two or three passenger coaches. India’s train, by contrast, has 10 coaches, making it the world’s longest hydrogen train at present. With a 3,200 HP propulsion system, it is also among the most powerful hydrogen-powered trainsets globally.
