GB Railfreight and HyOrc sign MOU to Advance Rail Decarbonisation in the UK

Core Insights - GB Railfreight (GBRf) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with HyOrc Corporation to collaborate on Project Phoenix, which aims to retrofit part of GBRf's older diesel locomotive fleet with zero-emission-ready propulsion technology [1][2] Group 1: Project Overview - Project Phoenix will scale HyOrc's validated 1MW factory system to a 3MW pilot in the UK, focusing on replacing the diesel engine of a legacy locomotive [2] - The initiative seeks to provide a low-risk pathway for transitioning freight locomotives from diesel to sustainable fuels, initially using onboard Natural Gas or LPG before moving to 100% onboard Hydrogen [3] Group 2: Strategic Benefits - A significant advantage of Project Phoenix is the potential to avoid expensive railway electrification infrastructure, thus reducing overall costs [3] - The project aligns with GBRf's commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, allowing for the retrofitting of existing assets while introducing new bi-mode Class 99 locomotives [4] Group 3: Financial Implications - HyOrc's CFO highlighted that retrofitting existing assets allows rail operators to decarbonize immediately, potentially saving billions in new fleet costs [5] - The companies are exploring structured funding through the Connected Places Catapult Accelerator to support the initiative [5] Group 4: Company Background - GB Railfreight operates over 1,000 trains weekly and is responsible for approximately 22% of the UK's rail freight [7] - HyOrc Corporation specializes in developing patented hydrogen-capable combustion and waste-to-fuel systems for various sectors, including rail [7]