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Comment 51 for Technology and Fuels Assessment Report comments (techfuel-report-ws) - 1st Workshop.
First Name: Andreas
Last Name: Hoffrichter
Email Address: Andreash@msu.edu
Affiliation:
Subject: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells
Comment:
The report considers alternative fuels for railway propulsion but only briefly mentions hydrogen as an option without any detailed investigations. Currently, there are several hydrogen railway projects ongoing world-wide, primarily in the passenger rail multiple unit and streetcar sector, often with the objective to reduce emissions. But there are also studies ongoing for higher power rail applications (~3300kW, 4400hp), for example, at the University of California at Davis. Hydrogen fuel cell technology could significantly contribute in the reduction of local as well as overall GHG emissions. A document for some further information is the PhD dissertation with the title 'Hydrogen as an energy carrier for railway traction' by Hoffrichter, which is publicly available at http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/4345/ . The authors of the report are correct that there are, currently, now line-haul freight locomotives that utilize hydrogen but the technology is applicable to that market and such locomotives could be produced in the near-mid term future. It would probably be useful to consider hydrogen fuel cell technology further as an option to reduce emissions in California.
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2016-07-11 12:16:01
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