The Federal Government is backing a pioneering project to retrofit a diesel-electric freight train with batteries, aiming to power heavy-haulage and general freight routes using battery technology.
According to the Government, Australia’s largest rail freight hauler Aurizon will develop and trial a 1.8 megawatt-per-hour (MWh) battery-electric tender (BET) to power a diesel-electric locomotive with $9.4 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
Project partner Alta Battery Technology will be responsible for designing and constructing the BET, with initial works taking place at Aurizon’s facility in Townsville, Queensland. Once operational, the BET will be trialled across one of Aurizon’s customer haulage routes.
Aurizon estimated the BET could eventually provide up to 50 per cent of the required power on suitable commercial haulage routes, helping to decarbonise the company’s operations. In addition, the BET will be charged with renewable energy to further displace diesel use on the trial route.
The Federal Government said Aurizon will deploy a battery-electric locomotive supported by the BET, offering a pathway to fully decarbonising rail freight using existing infrastructure by replacing diesel entirely.
“Most emissions from railway freight come from diesel consumption, so this is a crucial first step to decarbonise our freight rail system,” Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said.
Queensland Senator Nita Green, Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, lauded the project’s regional benefits.
“We’re moving the transport sector into the future and, doing it right here in regional Queensland, taking advantage of lower emissions technology to create and grow more jobs,” Green said.
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