Renfe, Repsol test 100% renewable diesel on Costa Verde tourist train

Photo: Renfe

Renfe, Spain’s national state-owned railway, announced recently that it continues with its strategy of decarbonizing rail transport and its search for sustainable solutions for nonelectrified lines.

To this end, the company has signed a general protocol of action with Repsol to promote the use of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, as an alternative to conventional fossil fuel in rail services whose infrastructure is not yet electrified.

Renfe and Repsol have carried out a test of the use of 100 percent renewable Nexa diesel on the Costa Verde tourist train with satisfactory results.

Previously, Renfe shared with Repsol technical information on the locomotive and the engine used in the generators and prepared the railway material for the test.

To do this, a 619 series locomotive was first completely emptied of conventional fuel.

Subsequently, Repsol supplied 1,000 liters (264 gallons) of HVO fuel free of charge at the El Berrón Maintenance Base in Asturias, Spain, with which the locomotive was fully refueled.

Renfe said its decarbonization strategy is mainly based on the use of electricity from renewable sources on electrified lines, complemented by initiatives such as the evaluation of renewable fuels for diesel material.

By 2025, 94 percent of Renfe Viajeros’ demand made its trips without greenhouse-gas emissions in traction energy, guaranteeing carbon-neutral trips.

In this context, the company said HVO represents a solution compatible with the existing fleet that can contribute to reducing the carbon footprint during the transition process.

“This trial demonstrates the technical feasibility of renewable fuel in our operations and strengthens our collaboration with strategic partners to move towards increasingly sustainable mobility,” Renfe stated.

The protocol signed between Renfe and Repsol is part of measures aimed at promoting alternatives to conventional diesel on nonelectrified lines, included in the company’s sustainability master plan approved in 2024, which seeks to reduce carbon-footprint emissions in scopes 1, 2 and 3.

“The performance of this test has required the involvement of different teams from Renfe and the directorate of tourist trains, which have made available the railway material, technical resources and operational planning necessary to guarantee the development of the test in real operating conditions,” Renfe said.

With this event, Renfe said it reinforces its commitment to innovation and sustainability, promoting solutions that contribute to increasingly efficient and environmentally friendly mobility.