Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050
Electric trains (ETs) and hydrogen trains (HTs) offer an opportunity for both Japan and the UK to meet their national targets as part of the Paris Agreement. Although ETs and HTs are considered zero emission at the point of use, their true environmental impact is dependent upon non-tailpipe emission...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198221000518 |
| _version_ | 1819139088601579520 |
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| author | Kathryn G. Logan John D. Nelson Benjamin C. McLellan Astley Hastings |
| author_facet | Kathryn G. Logan John D. Nelson Benjamin C. McLellan Astley Hastings |
| author_sort | Kathryn G. Logan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electric trains (ETs) and hydrogen trains (HTs) offer an opportunity for both Japan and the UK to meet their national targets as part of the Paris Agreement. Although ETs and HTs are considered zero emission at the point of use, their true environmental impact is dependent upon non-tailpipe emissions from fuel/energy production and vehicle manufacture, maintenance and disposal. To assess and compare the carbon dioxide emissions produced from ETs and HTs in Japan and the UK from 2020 and 2050, the operating emissions of these trains were projected. Results compared ET and HT emissions with diesel fuelled trains (DFTs) to better assess which fuel type was the most environmentally friendly. Emissions per train, cumulative emissions and total energy required for ETs and HTs were compared.Results indicated that even with technological improvements, DD DFTs produced the highest level of emissions in both countries, followed by HTs. Although ETs produced the lowest level of emissions, it is likely that a mix of both ETs and HTs will be required to meet passenger demand and for travel within rural areas. As Japan has already transitioned towards ETs, future policy focus should be placed on decarbonisation of their energy sector and a shift away from fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy, otherwise environmental benefits of ETs will be diminished. As the UK is decarbonising its electricity network, focus needs to be placed on electrifying the majority of the rail network and running the rest on hydrogen to decarbonise rail transport. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:17:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dff52647214e46bd8eabfd5d333f0d3f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1982 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T11:17:06Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives |
| spelling | doaj.art-dff52647214e46bd8eabfd5d333f0d3f2022-12-21T18:27:58ZengElsevierTransportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives2590-19822021-06-0110100344Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050Kathryn G. Logan0John D. Nelson1Benjamin C. McLellan2Astley Hastings3The School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom; Energy Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; Corresponding author at: UCD Energy Institute, E0.94, Ground Floor, Science East. University College Dublin. Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Sydney, Sydney, AustraliaGraduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, JapanThe School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United KingdomElectric trains (ETs) and hydrogen trains (HTs) offer an opportunity for both Japan and the UK to meet their national targets as part of the Paris Agreement. Although ETs and HTs are considered zero emission at the point of use, their true environmental impact is dependent upon non-tailpipe emissions from fuel/energy production and vehicle manufacture, maintenance and disposal. To assess and compare the carbon dioxide emissions produced from ETs and HTs in Japan and the UK from 2020 and 2050, the operating emissions of these trains were projected. Results compared ET and HT emissions with diesel fuelled trains (DFTs) to better assess which fuel type was the most environmentally friendly. Emissions per train, cumulative emissions and total energy required for ETs and HTs were compared.Results indicated that even with technological improvements, DD DFTs produced the highest level of emissions in both countries, followed by HTs. Although ETs produced the lowest level of emissions, it is likely that a mix of both ETs and HTs will be required to meet passenger demand and for travel within rural areas. As Japan has already transitioned towards ETs, future policy focus should be placed on decarbonisation of their energy sector and a shift away from fossil fuels in favour of renewable energy, otherwise environmental benefits of ETs will be diminished. As the UK is decarbonising its electricity network, focus needs to be placed on electrifying the majority of the rail network and running the rest on hydrogen to decarbonise rail transport.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198221000518UKJapanElectric trainsHydrogen trainsCarbon dioxide emissionspublic transport |
| spellingShingle | Kathryn G. Logan John D. Nelson Benjamin C. McLellan Astley Hastings Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives UK Japan Electric trains Hydrogen trains Carbon dioxide emissions public transport |
| title | Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| title_full | Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| title_fullStr | Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| title_short | Japan and the UK: Emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| title_sort | japan and the uk emission predictions of electric and hydrogen trains to 2050 |
| topic | UK Japan Electric trains Hydrogen trains Carbon dioxide emissions public transport |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590198221000518 |
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