After a period of research and development, Sitav is ready to unveil its hydrogen locomotive prototype designed for port shunting operations. A key milestone in this project is the agreement with Ansaldo Green Tech, a subsidiary of Ansaldo Energia, for the production of green hydrogen. The first prototype is scheduled to debut in September at the Expo Ferroviaria trade fair. The agreement includes the production of AEM electrolysers in Genoa, funded through the IPCEI programme.
The aim of the two companies is to develop an integrated hydrogen ecosystem for rail transport, combining the sustainable production of the energy carrier with its application in port railway manoeuvres. The need to reduce emissions in ports, where locomotives operate in non-electrified areas and are currently powered by diesel, makes fuel cell technology a crucial choice for the energy transition.
When designing the locomotive, Sitav also considered battery power. However, engineers concluded that fuel cells offer several advantages, including lower costs compared to batteries, reduced operational risks, and significantly faster refuelling times. The decision to focus on hydrogen technology has been reinforced by four years of development and discussions with industry operators to tailor the project to real market needs.
Despite being a prototype, Sitav’s hydrogen locomotive has already attracted interest from the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, which is assessing technologies to replace the five diesel locomotives currently used for shunting operations at the Port of Genoa. Emanuele Profice, head of the Authority’s European policies office, stated that feasibility studies are underway to evaluate the implementation of this innovative solution. The analysis focuses on technical aspects such as refuelling methods and the possibility of retrofitting existing locomotives with hydrogen propulsion systems.
To ensure the project’s economic viability, the Port Authority is considering submitting the hydrogen locomotive for an Innovation Fund call for proposals, which could help cover development and implementation costs. At the same time, it is exploring the direct production of green hydrogen within the port using innovative technologies such as metal hydride storage, which could streamline the authorisation process and enhance safety.
