The world’s heavy industries remain vital to the global economy yet are very difficult to decarbonise. One factor contributing to the sector’s emissions is the energy needed to transport large quantities of heavy raw materials over long distances. The process of transporting iron ore, for example, is complicated and emissions intensive.
To tackle this, Australian mining company Fortescue has developed a zero-emission battery electric train to transport its iron ore. The train was developed in collaboration with UK-based company Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) and includes several technological developments.
Most important among these is the train’s ability to recharge itself using gravitational energy. When the loaded train goes through a downhill section, energy is harvested and used to recharge the battery. This means there is no need to install separate charging infrastructure or renewable energy generation capacity. The train’s regenerating capabilities have earned it the nickname ‘infinity train’.