The fuel cells will be delivered in 2022 and, inclusive of Ballard’s announcement in March 2021, the company will now provide a total of 14 fuel cell modules to support CP’s program.
CP’s expansion of its Hydrogen Locomotive Program, from one to three hydrogen locomotives, is partially supported by C$15m in funding from Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) as part of its Shovel-Ready Challenge announced late last year.
The CP program was selected as one of 16 emissions reduction projects to receive provincial funding. CP intends to refine the process of converting diesel-electric powertrains to hydrogen-electric powertrains over a series of three categories of locomotives which collectively represent most locomotives in use throughout North America.
“In expanding this groundbreaking project, CP is demonstrating its commitment to combatting climate change through transformative technology,” said Keith Creel, CP’s president and chief executive officer. “I am very pleased that Emissions Reduction Alberta selected this program for a grant, and I eagerly anticipate seeing a hydrogen-powered locomotive move CP customer freight in the near future.”
“We are excited to deepen our collaboration with CP and accelerate the energy transition,” added Randy MacEwen, Ballard’s president & CEO. “The expansion of CP’s Hydrogen Locomotive Program is illustrative of the confidence in Ballard’s fuel cell technology and the important role hydrogen fuel cells will play in decarbonizing heavy-duty motive applications, such as freight locomotives.”