Industrial, Sourcing Renewables - November 23, 2022
Nestlé Waters Shifts to Hydrogen Freight Trains in France
Beginning in 2025, Nestlé Waters will use a hydrogen-powered freight train to ship VITTEL® natural mineral water from its factory in Vosges, France to various distribution centers around the country, becoming the first company in Europe to benefit from the hydrogen fuel cell solution for massified rail freight.
The new hydrogen solution, developed by Alstom and ENGIE, will use a high-powered fuel cell system to power electric locomotives in non-electrified areas. This solution will be able to transport goods over long distances, on a national and European scale, thus replacing the diesel-powered locomotives currently used on most lines in France and most other European countries.
The dual-mode solution will be composed of a generator wagon incorporating a high-power fuel cell system powered by renewable hydrogen and a line-electric locomotive, all connected by an electrical power cable. The generating wagon will be able to supply the locomotive with electricity without the need for any catenary.
"At Nestlé Waters, we favour rail freight whenever possible. We are constantly looking for efficient solutions to reduce the carbon impact of our supply chain," said Sophie Dubois, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Waters in France, in a statement. "We are very proud of this project as it represents a significant investment by our railway team to find innovative solutions to answer to climate and environmental challenge. This collaboration with Alstom and ENGIE will accelerate the development of a decarbonized/carbon-free supply chain"
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