GB Railfreight Ltd (GBRf), one of the UK’s leading rail freight operators, has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with US clean technology company HyOrc Corporation (HyOrc). The collaboration, known as Project Phoenix, will define a pilot pathway to retrofit part of GBRf’s older diesel locomotive fleet with HyOrc’s zero-emission-ready propulsion technology.
HyOrc develops and commercializes patented hydrogen-capable combustion and waste-to-fuel systems for the shipping, rail, and off-grid power sectors.
Building on HyOrc’s recently validated 1 MW factory system, independently assessed by Bureau Veritas, Project Phoenix proposes scaling the technology to a 3 MW UK pilot.
The initiative aims to replace the diesel engine of a legacy locomotive and seek to demonstrate a practical, low-risk pathway for transitioning freight locomotives from diesel to sustainable fuels.
A key benefit of Project Phoenix is its ability to avoid costly railway electrification infrastructure.
Project Phoenix aligns with GBRf’s strategic commitment to lead the rail freight sector towards a more sustainable future and could play a key role in delivering our carbon reduction plan. By retrofitting part of our existing fleet with multi-fuel technology, it will offer a practical, low-risk route to decarbonisation. It enables us to extend the value of current assets alongside the introduction of our new fleet of bi-mode Class 99s, said Alex Kirk, Commercial Director at GB Railfreight.
The phased approach would initially reduce emissions through the use of onboard fossil gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) before transitioning to 100 percent onboard hydrogen.
This final step would be enabled by HyOrc’s proprietary Project Phoenix hydrogen-conditioning technology, designed to improve the economic viability of hydrogen utilisation.
Project-Phoenix is a turning point for the rail industry. By retrofitting existing assets, we allow operators to decarbonise immediately, bypassing billions in new fleet costs. We are exploring obtaining structured funding through the Connected Places Catapult Accelerator, said Lisa Carter, CFO of HyOrc.
