Vale and locomotive manufacturer Wabtec Corporation announced on Monday, a partnership to develop studies on a dual-fuel engine that can use both diesel and a mixture of diesel and ethanol. The studies will initially be conducted in the laboratory to validate the concept and evaluate performance, emissions reduction, and the ethanol/diesel substitution rate. The studies and tests are expected to take place by 2027, for evaluation of future use in the Vitória-Minas Railway (EFVM) fleet, in Southeastern Brazil.
The agreement to use ethanol, a renewable fuel that replaces fossil diesel, is part of a series of joint initiatives with Wabtec to advance Vale’s railway operations decarbonization program. Vale and Wabtec had previously announced in March an order for 50 locomotives equipped with Evolution Series engines capable of operating with up to 25% biodiesel blended with diesel. Future tests will explore increasing the renewable fuel share further.
Carlos Medeiros, Vale’s EVP of operations, said, “Projects like this demonstrate our commitment to accelerating the decarbonization of our rail network.” He noted that in 2024, Vale’s rail operations accounted for 14% of the company’s total carbon emissions.
