Saudi Arabia’s national railway company, Saudi Railway Company (SAR), announced on Sunday its plans to initiate trials of hydrogen-powered trains in the kingdom in October, this move follows the signing of an agreement with the French company Alstom, aiming to conduct operational trials and necessary studies to adapt this type of trains to Saudi Arabia’s environment, paving the way for their future deployment in passenger service.
SAR highlighted that these trains would be the first of their kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to embracing sustainable transportation technologies.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Saudi Minister of Energy, stated during his speech at the Climate Week in the Middle East and North Africa, held in Riyadh: “The operational trial of the first hydrogen-powered train in the region will commence next week, and we hope to have the first hydrogen-powered train in the Middle East within the coming months.”
في خطوة مبتكرة تهدف إلى تعزيز النقل المستدام… إطلاق تجارب #القطار_الهيدروجيني لأول مرة في المملكة والشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا 🚆💧🌿 #سكك_مستدامة pic.twitter.com/IECzLZPI9w
— الخطوط الحديدية السعودية | SAR (@SARSaudiRailway) October 8, 2023
He affirmed that Saudi Arabia possesses the potential to capture and store carbon, emphasizing the importance of sufficient investments in enabling these technologies through incentives and possibilities, success in this endeavor would benefit all and align with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman further stated, “We can be an exporter of clean hydrogen, a producer and exporter of clean electricity as well,” highlighting Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive approach to produce energy from renewable sources, hydrogen production, and the establishment of transmission networks.
Key Benefits of Hydrogen-Powered Trains:
Hydrogen-powered trains are at the forefront of modern sustainable transportation, generating the necessary power to operate trains without carbon emissions, they offer several advantages:
- Emission-Free Transport: Hydrogen trains produce no greenhouse gas emissions or air pollutants, with only water vapor as the exhaust.
- Lower Operating Costs: These trains typically have lower operating costs compared to traditional trains, contributing to cost-efficient transportation.
- Clean Energy Source: Hydrogen trains rely on green hydrogen, produced from renewable energy sources, ensuring a clean energy supply.
The Objectives of SAR’s Hydrogen Train Trials:
The trials announced by SAR aim to achieve the following objectives:
- Conduct operational trials and necessary studies for hydrogen-powered trains.
- Adapt these trains to suit Saudi Arabia’s environment and climate.
- Prepare for the future deployment of hydrogen-powered trains for passenger transportation in the kingdom.
Why Hydrogen-Powered Trains?
SAR’s initiative to introduce hydrogen-powered trains aligns with its commitment to transition to a more sustainable transportation system, improving the quality of life and safeguarding future generations by employing clean energy sources in its operations, it also aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Green Saudi Initiative, derived from Vision 2030, which includes increasing the country’s reliance on clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and protecting the environment.
أهداف إطلاق تجارب #القطار_الهيدروجي في المملكة ولأول مرة في الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا
نحو #سكك_مستدامة pic.twitter.com/tU7kxwJojq— الخطوط الحديدية السعودية | SAR (@SARSaudiRailway) October 9, 2023
This step represents a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to achieve its environmental goals, as the kingdom aims to reduce carbon emissions by 27.5% by 2030.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia’s move towards hydrogen-powered trains signifies a substantial stride towards greener and more sustainable transportation, demonstrating the nation’s commitment to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly future.
