muller877
Senior Member
As long as Hydrail is only considered for Diesel-only corridors, I'm fine. However, the benefits in electricity cost savings (due to non-peak usage) are pretty much ******. Here's why:
If I am correct, at maximum efficiency, hydrail is about 30-50% efficient (quoted from earlier in this thread). Compare this to the 70-90% efficiency from a pantograph. Peak electricity costs are 13 cents, and off-peak electricity costs are 6.5 cents; half the cost. Hydrail is half as efficient as direct pantograph collection, so twice as much electricity is required to get the same amount of work through hydrogen as you would through pantograph collection. There are also unforeseen maintenance costs that are not known.
Language please [note edited above to remove]
Your comparison assumes that the peak price would not change with Electric Rail. This will increase the peak demand and with a fixed maximum output the price of electricity will increase. Putting it another way Ontario will have to build additional capacity due to the increased peak demand.
A new power plant that will be idle during non-peak times will cost a lot more than 13 cents.
A secondary point...the variability between peak and non-peak is mostly powered by Gas Plants. And Gas Plants do emit NOx. Less than gas...but still pollution. Off-peak will be using nuclear, hydro or other lesser-polluting plants than Gas Plants.
If you want to push all the buttons:
- put a hydrogen plant near a hydroelectric dam up north to reduce the transmission needs (and loss in power).
- creates jobs for the First Nations people
- ship via rail (at night) to minimize the amount of road usage. Hydrail powered trains of course!
- additional revenue to ONR to maintain/improve the tracks up North