The job is a Scottish supply chain cooperation to supply a production-ready and also security accredited hydrogen drive train by November, 2021.
Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and also the Hydrogen Accelerator, based at the University of St Andrews, have actually assigned Arcola Energy and also a consortium of industry-leaders in hydrogen gas cell combination, rail design and also practical security to supply Scotland’s initial hydrogen drive train. A vital goal of the job is to develop possibilities for the Scottish rail supply chain with abilities advancement and also industrialisation of the modern technology.
The consortium will certainly be led by hydrogen gas cell combination professional Arcola Energy and also make use of the proficiency of world-leading rail design and also security specialists to supply complete system style and also combination based upon Arcola’s A-Drive modern technology system. The job is sustained by rail design and also security specialists Arup and also Abbott Risk Consulting to create an incorporated shipment group, with AEGIS offering governing third-party confirmation.
“Hydrogen traction power offers a safe, reliable and zero-carbon alternative for Scotland’s rail network. The hydrogen train project is an excellent opportunity for industry leaders in hydrogen, rail engineering and safety to collaborate with Scottish technology providers to develop a deployment ready solution,” claimed Dr Ben Todd, Chief Executive Officer ofArcola Energy “We are delighted to be working with Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and the Hydrogen Accelerator, to support Scotland’s strategy to make passenger railways emission free by 2035.”
Arcola Energy will certainly establish the modern technology system for the train’s brand-new powertrain from its prepared brand-new Scottish base. Arcola’s existing A-Drive system will certainly be reached satisfy rail security and also conformity needs, thus allowing the consortium to dramatically decrease advancement time and also expense to supply a total hydrogen powered remedy in simply 10 months.
The consortium consists of:
- Arcola Energy, job lead in charge of hydrogen gas cell system design, style and also combination, and also job presentation
- Global design working as a consultant Arup, will certainly give professional rail design proficiency for technological principles, top-level style and also security approach. Arup’s Edinburgh workplace will certainly likewise deal with the Hydrogen Accelerator to chart the course to mainline release of hydrogen drive train throughout Scotland
- Abbott Risk Consulting, based in Edinburgh and also Glasgow, will certainly supply professional item advancement conformity and also health and wellness administration
- AEGIS Certification Services will certainly give 3rd party security qualification and also conformity confirmation
Project companion Arup will certainly make use of the understandings from the job to establish a roadmap to turn out hydrogen trains to sustain the decarbonisation of Scotland’s network.
“With Scotland’s focus on achieving net zero emissions by 2035 and rail playing a leading role in this, hydrogen offers a safe, reliable and zero carbon alternative to other forms of rail propulsion,” claimed Clare Lavelle, Scotland Energy Business Lead,Arup “This project is not only a crucial step in helping us understand the practical challenges of using hydrogen traction power on our railways, but an example of the type of investment Scotland needs to take advantage of the opportunity to build a secure, flexible, cost effective and zero carbon energy network.”
Edinburgh- based threat and also security administration working as a consultant, Abbott Risk Consulting (ARC), will certainly bring practical security, item advancement conformity and also health and wellness administration proficiency to the consortium.
John Abbott, Managing Director of ARC, included: “This is a really important project for us and for Scotland. We are already engaged in hydrogen fuel-cell trials for aviation. To be part of this consortium and to be able to apply our functional safety experience to such an important sustainability initiative for Scotland’s railways is a real privilege.”
AEGIS Certification Services brings comprehensive understanding of UK rail sector qualification and also authorizations procedures. AEGIS will certainly give 3rd party security evaluation and also conformity confirmation to supply Scotland’s initial hydrogen drive train and also connected framework.
“AEGIS Certification Services is delighted to have been selected to team up with Arcola Energy and partners for this prestigious project that will help to enable the Scottish Government’s objective of phasing out diesel only trains by 2035,” claimed Mark McCool,Managing Director With our expanding profile of train decarbonisation tasks, AEGIS anticipates collaborating with sector leaders in hydrogen modern technology to ensure the secure combination of hydrogen gas cells right into traveler rolling supply, allowing the rail sector to additional establish this modern technology in the direction of a carbon neutral rail network.”
Based at the Bo’ ness and also Kinneil Railway, the consortium will certainly transform a Class 314 vehicle traveler train, provided by ScotRail, right into a deployment-ready and also licensed system for hydrogen drive train advancement.
Following demos, the train will certainly work as a growth system for Scottish modern technology companies and also academics as Scottish Enterprise and also the Hydrogen Accelerator check out possibilities for Scotland’s hydrogen-enabled reduced carbon approach.
The Bo’ ness and also Kinneil Railway will certainly give design centers and also assistance for screening and also public demos.
Scotland’s Transport Secretary Michael Matheson included: “This project has the potential to be a game changer for the future of Scotland’s rail rolling stock. Our Rail decarbonisation Action Plan sets out to make our passenger railways emissions free by 2035, but to maximise our climate change ambitions, there is also a requirement to look at what we do with retired stock. If we can bring those back into use in a carbon neutral way, there are huge climate gains to be made.”
The Consortium will certainly show the hydrogen drive train throughout COP26, organized by Glasgow City, from November 1-12, 2021.
Sea News, December 30
