(Perth / Munich) – Deutsche Bahn AG (DB) and the Australian company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), part of the Australian mining company Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., will work together in the future to research green hydrogen and ammonia fuels for rail transport. According to the information, both want to replace diesel in their operations with green fuels “as quickly as possible”.
Diesels should be phased out
“We are saying goodbye to diesel and relying on the latest technologies, including the ammonia/hydrogen engine,” says DB digitalization and technology director Daniela Gerd tom Markotten. The agreement stipulates that FFI will participate in the development of a carbon-free combustion engine for DB.
The research is based on an existing type of diesel engine. This will be modified so that it can be operated with green ammonia and green hydrogen. Ammonia has a higher energy density than liquid hydrogen and is easier to transport and store. This makes it possible to “continue to operate existing diesel vehicles without emissions,” explains Daniela Gerd tom Markotten.
Prototype already in the testing phase
A first prototype of the engine is currently being tested on an engine test bench. There will be a process 
The Stuttgart company Ammonigy is used: According to the information, a small part of the ammonia is split into hydrogen and nitrogen outside the engine. “The hydrogen produced in this way is then mixed with the remaining ammonia as an ignition gas and ensures CO2-free combustion,” explains the company. DB is continuing to develop this technology together with FFI. Overall, both companies are investing a mid-six-figure amount in the project. The cooperation also includes logistics and supply chains, as well as manufacturing, transport and distribution of both energy sources.
FFI wants to produce hydrogen in large quantities and distribute it globally in the form of green ammonia. The company recently confirmed its stake in the Belgian infrastructure company Tree Energy Solutions BV (TES), which is in Wilhelmshaven is working on the construction of terminals for the import of hydrogen.
Fortescue uses 82 million liters of diesel annually
Fortescue's economic interest in alternative drives is enormous. Fortescue Metals Group currently operates 54 locomotives in Australia, hauling 16 trains. Each train unit is approximately 2,8 kilometers long and can transport 34.404 tons of iron ore in 244 wagons. According to the information, the mining company consumed around 2021 million liters of diesel in the 82 financial year.
In March of this year, Fortescue completed the takeover of the engineering service provider and battery manufacturer Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), founded by the British Formula 1 team Williams. The company produces, among other things, the standard batteries for “Formula E”, the Formula 1 variant for electric racing cars.
The plan behind the acquisition is to develop a regenerative battery-electric train for transporting ore. Called the “Infinity Train,” the vehicle is designed to use gravity while traveling downhill on a selected route to fully charge its battery-electric systems, without requiring additional charging for the return journey. At least for this section, the associated emissions would be eliminated once the Infinity train is implemented. Delivery of the first iron ore train of this type is scheduled for the end of 2027.
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Fortescue wants to move away from diesel: The mining company operates 54 locomotives that pull 2,8 kilometer long trains and consumed around 82 million liters of diesel last year. © Fortescue Metals Group Ltd
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The railway wants to replace diesel with environmentally friendly fuel: Chief Technology Officer Daniela Gerd tom Markotten at the InnoTrans 2022 trade fair in Berlin in front of the “Advanced Train Lab”. © Deutsche Bahn AG / Pablo Castagnola
