Hydrogen railway along Peru pacific coastline

The paper shows the first results of the feasibility study of a train connection (for passengers and goods) powered by hydrogen energy, along Peru pacific coastline. The studied railway is intended to connect the cities of Tumbes, Piura, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Chimbote and Lima. This initiative is presented by GEA, the Energy and Environment Group of ClRPS-University of Rome "La Sapienza", which focalises his research activity to find effective solutions for the use of renewable energy sources and efficient use of the energy for sustainable development. GEA-ClRPS has already carried-out several studies about the possible exploitation of renewables in Peru, in particular biomass. The study proposed is highly innovative, because currently there isn't a railway network in Peru (there are only two railways in the whole country: a east-west railroad in the central zone of Peru for mining applications, and another one in Macchupicchu-Cuzco with tourist purpose). So, this scenario permit to assess appropriately from the green field the possible solutions for a railway in Peru, and shows very interesting perspectives for the train powered by hydrogen. The study has been structured in three phases. The first phase consists in determining the potential for hydrogen production from renewable resources in the north coastal regions of Peru. An analysis is carried out also for hydrogen production from natural gas which is present in the north zone of Talara, and the central Andean zone (Camisea). So the hydrogen is obtained from diverse energy resources, depending on local availability. About renewable resources, Peru is a country with great potential for renewable energy: high levels of solar radiation (6,5 kwh/m2/day), wind energy (average speed 8 m/s) in several regions, mini-hydraulic, and biomass (in 2003 the north region has produced about 4.961×103 tons of residues from agricultural crops: sugarcane, rice, fruits, corn, etc.). The use of local renewable resources is an opportunity for power hydrogen plants. The second phase is the study of the strategic geographic points where will be produced the hydrogen (depending of the resource). For the wind and solar hydrogen resources, will be analyzed if it is suitable produce and stored locally the hydrogen, or put in the electric energy generated to the grid, and operated the train with this energy produced. For the case of biomass to hydrogen production, the assess regarding the zone where the hydrogen will be produced and stored and then distributed. Integral part of this phase is the analysis of the "state of the art" of the technology for hydrogen production, off-board storage and distribution. The implementation of hydrogen technologies will bring many social-environmental- economic benefits. The third phase is the conceptual design of coastline railway, the fuel-cell locomotive, the on-board storage and the study of the refueling system. In particular, PEM fuel cell stacks will be analyzed for the power modules of the locomotive. For the storage of the hydrogen will be studied diverse configurations (e.g. metal-hydride storage). In this paper shows the results of the first phase: an exhaustive study of hydrogen production in north coast of Peru; and a layout of the coastline railway powered by hydrogen, according with the strategic points for hydrogen production and off-board storage. The study is in line with the objectives of the international strategic "Initiative for the Integration of Infrastructure in South America - URSA" signed by southamerican governments, and represents an especial application study, because the URSA project will cross through sensitive environmental zones of the Coastline Peruvian Regions, and it's necessary to reduce the high risk of environmental damage. URSA initiative seeks to create an infrastructure platform (Transportation, Energy, and Telecommunications) to promote trade integration in South America and reinforce the region's position in the global economy.