Canadian national railway: Company tests natural gas locomotives
the mixed fuel locomotive will reduce carbon emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 70% over its work span.
OTTAWA:
Canadian National Railway (CN) is testing two diesel-electric locomotives retrofitted to run on cheaper and less polluting natural gas, the transportation giant announced Friday. If the technology proves viable in trials underway on a 300-mile run, it could help railways significantly reduce their carbon emissions, CN Vice President Keith Creel said in a statement. “CN launched this locomotive test to explore the use of natural gas as a potential alternative to conventional diesel fuel,” he said. “Natural gas has a lower carbon content compared with diesel fuel, so that locomotives using natural gas – if the railway technology employing this form of energy ultimately proves viable – would produce significantly fewer carbon dioxide emissions.” The retrofitted locomotives use 90% natural gas and 10% diesel fuel for ignition, and are paired with a specially equipped and protected tank car. According to Energy Conversions, the mixed fuel locomotive will reduce carbon emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 70% over its work span.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.
Canadian National Railway (CN) is testing two diesel-electric locomotives retrofitted to run on cheaper and less polluting natural gas, the transportation giant announced Friday. If the technology proves viable in trials underway on a 300-mile run, it could help railways significantly reduce their carbon emissions, CN Vice President Keith Creel said in a statement. “CN launched this locomotive test to explore the use of natural gas as a potential alternative to conventional diesel fuel,” he said. “Natural gas has a lower carbon content compared with diesel fuel, so that locomotives using natural gas – if the railway technology employing this form of energy ultimately proves viable – would produce significantly fewer carbon dioxide emissions.” The retrofitted locomotives use 90% natural gas and 10% diesel fuel for ignition, and are paired with a specially equipped and protected tank car. According to Energy Conversions, the mixed fuel locomotive will reduce carbon emissions by 30% and nitrogen oxide emissions by 70% over its work span.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2012.