The agreement represents a move to implementation stage for the hydrogen fuel cell project, which first began in September 2019. Back then cooperation and interaction agreements were signed between the partners for a railway transportation project based on hydrogen fuel cell trains and their operation systems.
“We are approaching the time to start designing and producing a batch of seven pilot hydrogen fuel cell trains,” said the governor of the Sakhalin region, Valery Limarenko. “We are going to organize a low-tonnage hydrogen production, hydrogen fueling stations to provide trains with hydrogen fuel, and launch the regular passenger rail traffic using hydrogen fuel cell trains.
“On the basis of the Sakhalin State University we will create a competence center to train necessary staff. Sakhalin region is to become one of the leaders of the Russian new perspective economic sector related to hydrogen production and application,” Limarenko added.
Rosatom, together with the Government of the Sakhalin Region, is working on comprehensive support measures for the project, including those related to the organization of a hydrogen production center on the island.
Kirill Komarov, director for development and international business at Rosatom, said, “Within the project, Rosatom is responsible for the production and supply of hydrogen fuel, organization and operation of refueling infrastructure systems for the hydrogen fuel cell train project. With Rosatom’s large-scale program on the development of hydrogen technologies, we see great prospects in the domestic technologies that will provide hydrogen fuel for future trains.”
Oleg Belozerov, general director and chairman of the management board at Russian Railways, concluded, “Hydrogen fuel cell trains are no longer a fantasy, but our near future. They will allow reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere and contribute to reaching the net-zero emission goal. However, we still have a long way to go, to enhance technological and economic issues, but we will find a solution that suits everyone. Experience has shown that highly-sought-after innovative technologies offer feasible implementation options within a relatively short period of time.”