Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and ATCO EnPower™, a division of Canadian Utilities Ltd., have brought on line two hydrogen production and locomotive refueling facilities, one each in Calgary and Edmonton, to serve CPKC’s Hydrogen Locomotive Program. CPKC is retrofitting several diesel-electric locomotives with hydrogen fuel cells and, in some cases, hydrogen fuel tenders, for local and main line operations.
ATCO EnPower™ provided engineering, procurement and construction services for each of the dedicated, on-site hydrogen locomotive refueling stations and has signed an agreement to operate them. Each of the facilities includes a 1-megawatt (MW) electrolyzer, compression, storage and dispensing systems for locomotive refueling. In Calgary, the electrolyzer is powered in part by renewable electricity from CPKC’s existing 5 MW solar power facility co-located at CPKC’s headquarters.
“These fueling facilities are an important part of advancing the ongoing testing of our hydrogen locomotives and advancing the development of our industry-leading program working toward a lower carbon transportation future,” said Kyle Mulligan, CPKC Assistant Vice President Operations Technology.
“We are proud to announce the completion of the two-hydrogen production and refueling stations for CPKC,” said Mark Brown, Executive Vice President of Projects and Operations, ATCO EnPower. “This advancement marks significant progress in utilizing hydrogen as a fuel source for commercial transportation and reflects ATCO EnPower’s commitment to building a sustainable future by providing innovative energy solutions for our customers.”
The two new facilities “will serve as a model for future and complementary projects across the country,” CPKC said. “By harnessing the power of hydrogen, CPKC aims to create a cleaner, more efficient mode of freight transportation that can serve as a model for the rail industry with support from ATCO EnPower. With operations in Canada and Mexico, ATCO EnPower is leading the energy transition with inspired energy solutions, including renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and derivatives, and energy storage.”
HGmotive™ designed and built a Transport Canada and Federal Railroad Administration-approved hydrogen tender that’s now testing in main line operations in Western Canada with CPKC 1200, a retrofitted AC4400CW. The company is building several more.
Railway Age’s December 2024 issue will spotlight CPKC’s test program.
