Alstom and Hynamics have signed a partnership agreement to optimise the time taken to refuel hydrogen-powered passenger trains.

Hynamics is a subsidiary of the Électricité de France (EDF) Group. It provides solutions for the production, storage and distribution of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen to the industrial and mobility sectors.

By working in collaboration, Alstom and Hynamics will speed up the development of hydrogen trains, and reduce the time needed to refuel them.

Joint modelling, calculation, and simulation work is already being carried out by the partners, in particular by using the skills and resources of “EDF Lab”.

The results will be tested next year on the electrolyser test platform at the ‘EDF Lab Les Renardières’, one of EDF’s three R&D centres in Écuelles south of Paris.

To recreate the filling circuits at actual size, and to evaluate the behaviour of the equipment under optimal observation conditions, will require the construction of a hydrogen production station, a compressor up to 450 bars, and several storage racks.

Ultimately, the aim is to define an international refuelling standard that will make it possible to limit the immobilisation of hydrogen-powered trains during refuelling, which is a major issue for both railway companies and passengers, while complying with the regulations and safety rules in force.

The two groups emphasise that: “This partnership will enable us to optimise the hydrogen distribution infrastructure and the rolling stock made available to operators. This is a project that presents many opportunities for the decarbonisation of transportation and the development of sustainable mobility”

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