From Lars Ronge, Industry Segment Manager Transportation, JUMO (Fulda)
The future of rail is quiet, clean, and efficient: hydrogen trains are among the most state-of-the-art and promising technologies for making rail transportation more environmentally friendly. While diesel-electric railcars remain indispensable in many regions, fuel cell propulsion systems are opening up new possibilities for nearly emission free operation on non-electrified routes.
When hydrogen and oxygen react together, it produces electricity (and water as the only by-product) – no exhaust gases, no CO₂ emissions. This makes rail transportation significantly cleaner and the technology helps to improve air quality in the long term with each journey. In addition, hydrogen trains are remarkably quiet, which increases passengers’ comfort and reduces noise in the surroundings along the railway line.
Despite these impressive advantages, hydrogen technology is no miracle solution – and it is precisely its current weaknesses that are often emphasised in public debate. One of the biggest challenges is the energy efficiency along the entire value chain. Producing green hydrogen is energy-intensive, as the power needed for electrolysis, compression, storage, and transport results in high conversion losses. Critics view this as a significant dis advantage compared to battery-electric solutions which need less energy recovery steps. In addition, truly ”green”; hydrogen is not available in sufficient quantities, as the expansion of renewable energies and electrolysis capacities is advancing more slowly than planned in many places. The environmental footprint of a hydrogen train now depends significantly upon how the hydrogen it uses was produced.
Costs are a critical issue
Another critical issue is the cost. Hydrogen trains are currently more expensive to purchase and operate than diesel or battery-based alternatives. The infrastructure – in particular refuelling stations, compressors, storage systems, and transport logistics – is still being expanded and requires a large amount of investment. The technology itself is still in an early stage of development, which is why maintenance, spare parts, and expertise are still not available everywhere. For operators, this means additional uncertainty when it comes to planning and cost effectiveness. Safety also plays an important role, as hydrogen is an extremely volatile gas and therefore requires particularly thorough monitoring of pressure, temperature, and leaks.
This is precisely where JUMO’s technical expertise comes into play. The challenge of handling
hydrogen safely, efficiently, and reliably in mobile applications requires precise measurement and
control technology.
JUMO has an extensive range for these future technologies and contributes its extensive expertise specifically to hydrogen mobility as an experienced technology partner in the rail sector. For pressure monitoring, JUMO provides special sensors whose measuring cells are designed for long-term contact with hydrogen and which provide precise values at high pressures – essential for storage tanks, lines, and fuel cell modules. Thermal management is just as important, as temperature probes and digital measuring systems from JUMO monitor the sensitive heat generation within the fuel cells as well as the various cooling circuits reliably. Precise temperature management ensures that fuel cell systems work efficiently, remain stable, and achieve their maximum operating life.
The quality of the hydrogen used plays a central role, as it directly influences the performance and durability of the fuel cells. Here, JUMO provides high-performance analytics solutions which continuously monitor the relevant process variables and therefore ensure stable operating conditions.
The systems are so reliable that they deliver consistently accurate measurement results even under the demanding conditions of a rail vehicle such as vibration, temperature fluctuations, and moisture. The basis here are devices that are checked according to the stringent requirements of the railway standard EN 50155.
Hydrogen is a promising option, but not a guaranteed success
It is evident that hydrogen is a promising option, but not a guaranteed success. The technology offers significant opportunities for quiet, clean, and flexible railway operations, but is also faced with challenges in terms of efficiency, availability, costs, and infrastructure. JUMO makes an important contribution to ensuring that this vision of the future can be achieved safely and reliably with high-quality, standard-compliant measurement and control technology. The railway of tomorrow combines sustainability with technical excellence – and hydrogen trains could also play a key role if existing obstacles are addressed systematically.
