Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil as an Alternative to Diesel Fuel for Rail Transport

In the pursuit of reducing carbon footprints and transitioning to eco-friendly fuels, Deutsche Bahn (DB) is making significant strides in this direction, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Recently, DB opened the largest refueling station in Eastern Germany that uses hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

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This event marks an important milestone in the company’s efforts to ensure sustainable and environmentally safe transportation.

Advantages of Using HVO

HVO is a biofuel produced from biological residues and waste. One of the main advantages of HVO is its near-zero carbon neutrality.

Locomotives running on this fuel can minimize CO2 emissions, which is crucial in the context of global climate change.

Using HVO allows DB not only to reduce emissions but also to maintain its existing fleet of locomotives, making the transition to the new fuel economically beneficial.

Technical Aspects and Implementation

The refueling station in Halle has been converted from diesel to HVO100.

It is the largest station of its kind in Eastern Germany, with a capacity of around one million liters of HVO per year.

DB Energie, responsible for converting the station to the new fuel, also manages 21 refueling stations across the country where biofuel is available.

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Both older and modern locomotive models are adapted to run on biofuel.

For three months, a dual-fuel DB Cargo locomotive successfully underwent rigorous operational testing with customers.

This demonstrated that HVO is a reliable and efficient fuel for rail transport.

Environmental Prospects

According to DB estimates, using HVO will save the company about 25,000 tons of CO2 this year.

By 2028, DB plans to use about 24 million liters of HVO, which will reduce carbon emissions by approximately 72,000 tons.

These measures are part of the company’s overall strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2040.

Future Plans and Alternative Technologies

In addition to using HVO, DB is actively investing in dual-mode locomotives such as the Siemens Vectron Dual Mode light.

These locomotives can run on both biofuel and diesel, allowing flexible use during the transition period.

DB is also exploring other alternative technologies, such as hydrogen and battery locomotives, which may eventually fully replace diesel fuel.

The opening of the largest HVO refueling station in Eastern Germany is an important step towards sustainable rail transport development.

Using biofuels like HVO not only reduces the carbon footprint but also demonstrates DB’s commitment to environmentally friendly technologies.

This event underscores the importance of innovation and sustainable solutions for the future of rail transportation.

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