GB Railfreight teams with HyOrc to refit older fleet to onboard hydrogen
In the UK, GB Railfreight (GBRf) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with US clean technology company HyOrc Corporation. The collaboration, known as Project Phoenix, will define a pilot pathway to retrofit part of GBRf’s older diesel locomotive fleet with HyOrc’s zero-emission-ready propulsion technology.
Building on HyOrc’s recently validated 1MW factory system, independently assessed by Bureau Veritas, Project Phoenix proposes scaling the technology to a 3MW UK pilot. The initiative aims to replace the diesel engine of a legacy locomotive and will seek to demonstrate a practical, low-risk pathway for transitioning freight locomotives from diesel to sustainable fuels.
A key benefit of Project Phoenix is its ability to avoid costly railway electrification infrastructure. The phased approach would initially reduce emissions through the use of onboard Natural Gas or LPG before transitioning to 100% onboard Hydrogen. This final step would be enabled by HyOrc’s proprietary Project Phoenix hydrogen-conditioning technology, designed to improve the economic viability of hydrogen utilization.
Category: Fuels
