HDR’s Latest Experts Talk: How To Reduce Power Use Today To Be Ready for a Carbon Reduction Future

Electric and hydrogen-fueled trains are swiftly entering the market, ushering in a new era of sustainable and environmentally conscious rail travel and reshaping the landscape of rail transportation. As rail companies embark on this transformative journey, this paradigm shift calls for a reevaluation of how assets, particularly rail vehicles designed for decades of in-service operation, are approached. The transition to zero emissions solutions requires a strategic consideration of various factors, with one key element being power usage.

One potential barrier to the widespread adoption of zero emissions technologies is the increased power demands compared to legacy systems. Optimizing power usage now can help prepare for the shift toward future technologies — while saving on costs in the present.

HDR’s Rail Vehicle Technology Lead, Marcin Taraszkiewicz, has more than three decades of experience working with locomotives. A foremost expert in rail vehicle technology, Taraszkiewicz specializes in implementing cutting-edge zero emissions solutions. His experience has empowered rail operators across the United States to navigate the path toward decarbonization, effectively balancing ambitious sustainability goals with considerations of return on investment and technological limitations. In HDR’s latest Experts Talk interview, he shares how a focus on power optimization will help owners and operators prepare for a zero emissions future. 

“To replace a diesel engine with a zero emissions power source, much more space is required," Taraszkiewicz said. "In some cases, more energy needs to be stored than can be reasonably accommodated in existing rail vehicle designs. However, if existing vehicles can be optimized so that less energy is needed to achieve the same operating goals, then the space required can be reduced, thus yielding more options for zero emission power conversion.”

Read the entire interview on power optimization for zero emissions rail vehicles.