Linde is claiming a world first after inaugurating a hydrogen refuelling system for passenger trains in Bremervörde, Germany.

Linde’s system, which it built, owns and operates, will refuel 14 hydrogen-powered passenger trains, enabling each train to run for 1,000 km emission-free on a single refuelling.

It has a total capacity of around 1,600kg of hydrogen per day, making it one of the largest hydrogen refuelling systems. It has been designed and constructed with the ability to integrate future on-site green hydrogen generation, and the new trains will replace existing diesel-powered trains.

From this year, the 24×7 station has been refuelling 14 hydrogen-powered regional trains from Alstom on a daily basis, and also on demand.

Veerle Slenders, President Region Europe West, Linde, said, “Linde is committed to making a significant contribution towards decarbonising transport in Europe. We are proud that Linde’s innovative technology plays a key role in supporting this project and establishing a blueprint for cleaner public transport systems around the world.”

Müslüm Yakisan, President of Alstom in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, said, “The world’s first hydrogen train, the Coradia iLint, demonstrates a clear commitment to green mobility combined with the latest technology.”

Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are also currently trialing a Coradia iLint train (pictured) in regular passenger service in southern Austria.

A power-to-gas plant in Mainz supplies the H2 fuelling station for buses in Wiesbaden with green hydrogen. Around 300kg can be loaded in eight hours – enough for eight fuel cell buses.

Compression technologies lie at the heart of every H2 fuelling station. Ionic technology is used to compress gaseous H2 to up to 100MPa and the cryopump efficiently supplies hydrogen in liquid form ready for refuelling.

Linde is a global leader in the production, processing, storage and distribution of hydrogen, offering the largest liquid hydrogen capacity and distribution system in the world.

The company, which operates the world’s first high-purity hydrogen storage cavern plus pipeline networks totalling approximately 1,000km globally, has installed over 200 hydrogen fuelling stations and 80 hydrogen electrolysis plants worldwide.