Sierra Northern Hydrogen Locomotive Project
Integrating a hydrogen fuel cell module, onboard hydrogen storage, and a battery module to collectively provide an efficient zero-emission alternative to diesel switcher locomotives
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
Recipient
Davis, CA
Recipient Location
37th
Senate District
68th
Assembly District
$2,693,946
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The project team completed building and commissioning the locomotive and demonstrated moving rail cars at Sierra Northern Railway's (SNR) West Sacramento railyard. A ribbon cutting event was held September 4, 2025 with speakers from local and state government leadership and press coverage. The project team also conducted numerous safety training sessions and reviews with the Federal Railroad Administration and local first responders. The demonstration in revenue service is planned to begin in Q3 2025. Additionally, the California State Transportation Authority awarded a $15.6 million follow-up project to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District and SNR to convert three more locomotives to hydrogen fuel cell, applying lessons learned from this project. Community Impact and Replication studies are underway.
The Issue
Executive Order N-79-20 established a goal to transition off-road vehicles and equipment to 100 percent zero-emission by 2045. Switcher locomotives are off-road vehicles that perform first and last mile freight rail functions at ports and railyards, rely on older and higher emitting diesel engines, and consume an average of 50,000 gallons of diesel per year. California has more than 800 switcher locomotives that directly impact air quality in communities located around ports and railyards. As California gas utilities explore opportunities to use clean renewable hydrogen to support the state’s decarbonization and clean air goals, zero-emission technologies like hydrogen fuel cells are needed to spur demand in key sectors including hard-to-decarbonize transportation end uses. However, in-service demonstration data is needed to inform adoption decisions, especially for new end-uses like rail.
Project Innovation
This project is integrating a hydrogen fuel cell module, onboard hydrogen storage, and a battery module to collectively provide an efficient zero-emission alternative to diesel switcher locomotives. The project is building and demonstrating a hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive over six months with Sierra Northern Railway, a Class III short line railroad that operates around the Port of West Sacramento. By analyzing in-service performance data and evaluating other suitable rail applications for hydrogen fuel cell technology in California, the project aims to lay the foundation for commercialization to expand hydrogen use in the rail sector. Design and build a first-of-a-kind hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive.
Project Goals
Design and build a first-of-a-kind hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive.
Demonstrate the hydrogen fuel cell switcher locomotive in real world operations.
Project Benefits
A successful demonstration of a hydrogen switcher locomotive will provide valuable information regarding the cost, performance characteristics, and benefits of zero emission locomotive conversions, particularly for railroad operators and communities located near ports and railyards. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of using hydrogen to decarbonize rail, which could be an important end-use as the gas system transitions to potentially support clean hydrogen conveyance in the future.
Consumer Appeal
Consumer Appeal
By using a retrofit approach, the hydrogen switcher locomotive retains familiar control systems for operators, reducing the need for significant retraining.
Environmental Sustainability
Environmental Sustainability
Converting switcher locomotives to zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell technology will reduce harmful pollutants, noise, and odors resulting from railyard activity that impact surrounding communities.
Safety
Safety
Safety training sessions and reviews were conducted with regulators and local first responders, increasing the knowledge base around safe adoption of hydrogen technology for rail applications.
Subrecipients
The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Riverside campus
Valley Vision, Inc.
Frontier Energy, Inc.
Ballard Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
Railpower Tech LLC
Sierra Northern Railway
MEF Consulting LLC
Match Partners
Institute of Gas Technology dba GTI Energy
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas)
Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
Ballard Fuel Cell Systems Inc.
Sierra Northern Railway
