In addition to funding from the California State Transportation Authority, SERA is also receiving funding from the State of California and Port and Freight Infrastructure Project Funding through a public-private partnership with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.
The total project cost will be approximately US$19.5m to expand on its current efforts by developing, demonstrating, and testing three additional hydrogen-fueled, zero-emissions switcher locomotives. The testing will be conducted on the soon to be constructed test track in SERA’s West Sacramento rail yard.
When this project is completed in Q4 2027, it will expand the SERA Hydrogen Zero Emission Switching Locomotive Fleet to a total of four locomotives and will help SERA lead the way to eventually convert the entire SERA fleet to hydrogen powered zero-emission switchers as well as all 260+ switchers in California to a Sierra Hydrogen Powered Zero Emission Switcher Locomotive.
This award builds on the 2021 award by the California Energy Commission grant to undertake a first-generation hydrogen-fueled, zero-emissions switcher locomotive where SERA is retiring an older tier 0 diesel locomotive and replacing it with a zero-emission switching locomotive using cutting-edge hydrogen technology.
Both the Energy Commission and the California State Transportation Authority projects involve the integration of an advanced hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage, advanced battery, and systems control technologies to provide an alternative to less environmentally friendly diesel-powered locomotives.
Kennan H. Beard III, president of Sierra Northern Railway said, “SERA is extraordinarily proud to be awarded the funds by the California State Transportation Authority as we continue to lead the industry converting our fleet of switching locomotives to hydrogen powered zero emissions locomotives. We believe that through creative public-private partnerships like we have with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District we can help the State of California achieve its goals of converting all switching locomotives to a Zero Emission Solution.”
The project partners working together to execute this innovative effort include Sierra Northern Railway, the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Railpower Tech, Ballard Power Systems, Velocity Strategies, Gas Technology Institute, WHA International, UC Riverside, College of Engineering - Center for Environmental Research and Technology and Valley Vision.