This step to decarbonizing bus fleets will let stakeholders know how much it will cost to decarbonize their bus fleet, the Total Cost of Ownership, (TCO) and Total Carbon Abatement, (TCA) for transitioning to a hydrogen based fleet.
The EST is an easy-to-use graphical tool enabling community stakeholders to take full commercial and environmental advantage of renewable data analytics to develop their own energy solutions. It is powering community driven transitions to a zero-carbon footprint and enabling communities to plan their H2-based energy solutions, decarbonize energy needs and plan their pathway to net zero.
The model will provide an estimate of how valid it is for a bus fleet to switch to hydrogen. To complete the EST users are required to input some general information about the bus fleet such as fleet size and operational time.
After entering the information in the online tool users will be presented with charts that display the TCO and TCA of the bus fleet for the information provided. This compares the fuel types of hydrogen, battery, electric and traditional diesel drive mobility types as well as a mixed fleet approach.
Key information required for the online entry in the tool includes how many busses are in the fleet, what are the average operational times for busses in the fleet, steepness of routes, whether single deck, double decker or articulated busses are involved, and price of fuel in the area.
Cost effective decarbonization and energy security are the drivers of the EST. Finding the right role for hydrogen is very much a part of the EST and GenComm itself.
GenComm Program Manager Paul McCormack welcomed the tool going live globally saying, “Hydrogen is a growing commodity. This platform allows users to make informed decisions based on real data analysis to optimize their renewable energy use in order to achieve maximum impact in decarbonizing their communities. The EST allows communities to plot their transition journey to net zero.”
Tim Williamson from the GenComm Partner Hy Energy Consultancy added, “The model, developed by Tadgh Cummins of the GenComm Partner University of Galway, has been integrated into an easy-to-use online form, and is the perfect opportunity for bus operators to get a sense of where they should aim their efforts in their decarbonization processes.
“The outputs compare between traditional diesel, battery electric, fuel cell and a mixed fleet approach which uses both battery electric and fuel cell and can give a launching point from where bus operators can begin their decarbonization journey."
