• Exclusive Content
  • Events
  • Endeavor Business Media Energy
    1. e-Mobility

    BNSF Railway, Wabtec conducting pilot on impact of Biofuels in Locomotives

    March 11, 2022
    Testing will begin in the second quarter on Wabtec Tier 3 and Tier 4 Evolution Series locomotives in California. The locomotives will be operated between Barstow and Los Angeles
    Image credit Wabtec
    Wabtec Locomotive Heavy Haul 480x480 622b4e823c503

    Freight railroad BNSF Railway and Wabtec have partnered on a new biofuel project to quantify the impact of the use of biodiesel (B20) and renewable diesel (R55) on the durability, emissions and performance of Wabtec locomotives.

    Testing will begin in the second quarter on Wabtec Tier 3 and Tier 4 Evolution Series locomotives in California. The locomotives will be operated between Barstow and Los Angeles.

    “The rail industry is intently focused on reducing its environmental footprint by exploring emerging technologies,” said Bob Bremmer, Group Vice President for Wabtec’s Fleet Innovation and Transformation division. “Biofuels provide a unique near-term opportunity to have a significant impact on reducing carbon intensity.”

    Wabtec has already approved the use of a 5% biodiesel (B5) and a 30% renewable diesel (R30) blend for its locomotive engines. These are in use in approximately 11,000 of its Evolutions Series engines today.

    The Pittsburgh-based company also is deep into production of battery-electric locomotives, having entered into deals with industrial partners such as miner Rio Tinto and BHP Western Australia. Biofuels also are envisioned as a energy alternative with net carbon reduction potential.

    “BNSF is pleased to partner with Wabtec to test higher percentage blends of biodiesel and renewable diesel,” said John Lovenburg, Vice President, Environment & Sustainability. “

    In the pilot, BNSF used Wabtec battery-electric locomotives between Barstow and Stockton that showed an 11% decline in fuel consumption and GHG emissions as compared to standard diesel units. 

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.