ESTONIA: State-owned oil shale company Enefit Kaevandused and Latvian technology supplier DiGas have agreed to convert two TEM2 and TEM18 diesel shunting locomotives to diesel and LNG dual-fuel power by mid-2020.
Based on testing with other types of shunting locomotive, DiGas estimates that retrofitting the locos will reduce fuel costs by €25 000/year and cut CO2 emissions by 20%, particulates by 80% and SO2 and NOx by 30%.
The engine management system would also provide extensive information on performance, bringing further savings by supporting predictive maintenance.
Should the pilot project prove successful, Enefit Kaevandused has expressed interest in converting at least four more shunting locomotives.
- DiGas has applied for a patent for a system which controls the power and rotational speed of a locomotive engine powered by a three-component mixture of gaseous and liquid fuels and air. This was developed under the NYSMART project which has received grant funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research programme.
