The Anonymous Widower

Aurizon Secures Funding To Develop Next-Generation Freight Trains Using Renewable Energy

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from Aurizon.

These five paragraphs outline the project.

Australia’s largest rail freight company Aurizon, today received a major boost to its program to develop the next generation of Australian freight trains, aiming to replace diesel fuel with renewable energy sources on its locomotive fleet.

Aurizon has secured a $9.4 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to develop, test and trial a battery electric tender (BET) to be used in conjunction with a modified locomotive. (refer graphic below).

The tender – essentially a big battery-pack on wheels – will couple with the modified locomotive to operate as a hybrid unit using both diesel and battery-electric power sources. The tender’s battery will also harness re-generative energy captured as the train travels down grades and brakes as part of normal operation.

The ARENA grant represents half of the required funding for the ‘Battery Powered Tender for Heavy Haul Fleet Decarbonisation’ project, with the balance of the investment to be funded by Aurizon. The battery-electric tender and modified locomotive project will be built by Aurizon and technology project partner, Alta Battery Technology (Alta) at a facility in Australia, with design and technology inputs from Alta.

Aurizon appreciates the Federal Government making funding available to support the development of a range of new zero emissions technologies in the transport sector, including technologies that can be developed for application in rail-based freight supply chains that are integral to Australia’s export and domestic industries that rely on transport services.

At a first glance it appears to be suited to Aurizon and its long routes with heavy freight trains across Australia.

These are some more specific thoughts.

Alstom Have Built A Train With a Hydrogen Tender

In From 2025, Nestlé Waters France Will Use The First Hydrogen-Powered Freight Train Through An Innovative Solution Developed by Alstom and ENGIE, I describe a train powered by an electric locomotive with an attached hydrogen power unit.

The Future Of The Class 68 Locomotives

Could these be given a reduced-carbon second life, by developing a specialised tender?

I wrote about this in The Future Of The Class 68 Locomotives.

I suspect Stadler, who seem to be excellent innovators will be watching.

There Seems To Be A Lot Going On In Australia

I have written several posts about decarbonisation of freight trains in Australia.

• BHP To Trial Battery Locos On Pilbara Iron Ore Network
• Battery-Electric Power Rides The Rails
• Wabtec And Roy Hill Unveil The First FLXdrive Battery Locomotive
• Fortescue Unveils World-First Electric Train Using Gravity To Recharge
• BHP Joins The Party On Electric Rail
• Rio Tinto Orders Wabtec FLXdrive Battery Locomotives To Reduce Emissions

The big mining companies certainly seem keen to decarbonise.

March 12, 2024 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Alstom, Aurizon, Australia, Battery Tender, Battery-Electric Locomotives, Decarbonisation, ENGIE, Freight, Innovation