The new partnership arose out of both companies' mutual dedication toward providing comprehensive sustainable transport solutions, ranging from supplying rolling stock and fueling infrastructures, to green hydrogen production plants and renewable energy infrastructures.
Millán-García Tola, Iberdrola’s global director for green hydrogen, said, “By partnering with CAF, a leading player in sustainable transport, we intend to continue providing solutions that will serve as a catalyst for the transition to zero-emission transport. Both companies complement each other perfectly, and together we will be able to deliver comprehensive solutions for transport electrification, a sector that contributes to a third of EU greenhouse gas emissions.”
Iosu Ibarbia, CAF Group technology manager, added, “CAF has long been a strong advocate for developing its own technologies for power electronics, energy storage and batteries, and more recently hydrogen. We believe that this partnership agreement with Iberdrola is another step toward furthering this commitment and will contribute significantly to achieving the decarbonization goals in the transport sector.”
The overall goal of the partnership is to promote comprehensive solutions by which to replace diesel-powered trains without having to install catenaries or make and significant modifications.
Another goal is to improve the renewable hydrogen value chain with the highest safety, technology, and competition standards in fields like the railway sector and passenger transport, helping to encourage local companies to develop their technology and production capacity to drive sector transformation in Spain and compete on the international market.
Tests are due to start in April this year for the new train CAF has developed at its Zaragoza, Spain, plant as part of the FCH2RAIL project. These trains will be powered by green hydrogen supplied by Iberdrola from its Barcelona plant.
Headed up by CAF, the FCH2RAIL project is already well underway in terms of the design and production of a hydrogen train prototype which, based on a Renfe Civia series commuter train, will be fitted with a new electric generator system based on the hybridization of hydrogen fuel cells and batteries. This will combine with the vehicle’s existing traction system to become one of the first railway showcases for hydrogen cell dual energy mode systems.