(Berlin) - The Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB Cargo wants to transport hydrogen with freight trains. This is “an efficient alternative to pipelines,” according to the company. There are currently “many new initiatives on how green hydrogen can come to Germany by sea,” says Sigrid Nikutta, head of DB Cargo AG and board member for freight transport at the DB Group. “We have developed a solution that brings hydrogen easily and efficiently from the ports to consumers in the hinterland, especially to our industrial customers.” DB Cargo serves more than 35.000 interfaces, customer connections, terminals and inland ports within the 2.100 kilometer rail network.
Bound hydrogen in tank cars
Hydrogen that is imported into Germany is usually not gaseous, but rather bound in liquids. This means it can be “transported by ship easily and efficiently.” In collaboration with energy suppliers, DB Cargo has developed a concept for forwarding it to recipients far away from seaports. Accordingly, the hydrogen can be distributed in tank wagons in rail freight transport. “They are already widely used in the chemical industry today. Only where hydrogen is to be used as an energy source is the cargo cracked back into its components, the hydrogen separated and used as an energy source,” says the company.
DB Cargo is also involved in the development of hydrogen containers. This solution makes sense when it comes to distributing pure hydrogen to decentralized customers and users - for example at hydrogen filling stations. The railway subsidiary will also organize the delivery of the sister DB Regio's hydrogen trains, which are being tested in practical operation.
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DB Cargo wants to bring bound hydrogen onto the rails in tank wagons. © Deutsche Bahn AG / Georg Wagner
