Kiera Jefferson
Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is a major freight-hauling railroad that operates in 23 US states. While the transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the US, railroads only contribute 2%. UP has taken significant steps to reduce its emissions and play a role in reducing the transportation sector's emissions. In 2021, UP released its first Climate Action Plan, setting a target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 26% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline. UP aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and is committed to investing in technology and modernizing its fleet to achieve these goals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Union Pacific's Climate Action Plan | Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline |
| Union Pacific's Climate Action Plan Goals | Reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 |
| Union Pacific's Commitment | Reduce fuel consumption, use low-carbon fuels, modernize locomotives, and purchase battery electric locomotives |
| Union Pacific's Energy Management System | A "cruise control" for trains to save fuel |
| Union Pacific's Modernized Locomotives | Make each unit up to 5% more fuel-efficient and reduce emissions by approximately 53% |
| Union Pacific's Battery Electric Locomotives | Purchase North America's largest carrier-owned fleet of battery-electric locomotives |
| Union Pacific's Low-Carbon Fuels | Increase the use of low-carbon fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel to 10% by 2025 and 20% by 2030 |
What You'll Learn
Using low-carbon fuels
Union Pacific is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has outlined a series of strategies to achieve this. One of these strategies involves increasing the use of low-carbon fuels.
Union Pacific has set a target to increase its use of low-carbon fuels to 10% of its total diesel consumption by 2025 and 20% by 2030. This is a significant increase from 2.2% in 2020 to more than 4% today. Low-carbon fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, burn cleaner and are made from renewable resources. They play a pivotal role in helping Union Pacific reach its long-range environmental sustainability goals and reduce its overall GHG emissions.
In California, Union Pacific is leading a pilot project to determine the effectiveness of utilizing 100% biofuel with its locomotive fleet. This is the first time in Union Pacific's history that a locomotive is being powered solely by a renewable fuel source made from vegetable and/or animal fats. The field test will determine the feasibility of using an 80% renewable diesel and 20% biodiesel blend in Union Pacific’s fleet. The data gathered during the tests is expected to demonstrate that the performance and reliability of their engines are comparable when operated with biofuel or traditional, petroleum-based diesel fuel.
Union Pacific is also working to increase the use of renewable diesel and biodiesel fuels to help meet its science-based target of reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030, using 2018 as a baseline. By increasing the use of low-carbon fuels, Union Pacific is taking a significant step toward reducing its environmental impact and contributing to the global fight against climate change.
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Modernising locomotives
Union Pacific is making significant investments to modernise its locomotive fleet and reduce pollution from its trains. In 2021, the company upgraded 120 older locomotives, resulting in up to a 5% increase in fuel efficiency and a 53% reduction in emissions.
The modernisation efforts continued in 2022, with Union Pacific announcing a $1 billion investment to upgrade 600 locomotives by 2025. This initiative is expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 350 tons per locomotive per year, leading to a total annual emission reduction of 210,000 tons across the 600-locomotive fleet.
In addition to these upgrades, Union Pacific has also invested in "mother-slug" sets, which replace two locomotives with one diesel locomotive and an accessory, known as a slug. This setup improves fuel efficiency, maintenance savings, and environmental benefits by only using one engine instead of two.
Union Pacific is also exploring the use of battery-electric locomotives for rail yard operations and evaluating their potential for long-haul shipments. These modernisations and investments in new technology demonstrate the company's commitment to reducing pollution and its environmental impact.
Furthermore, Union Pacific has retired over 1,700 older, less fuel-efficient locomotives since 2009, replacing them with more than 1,300 new locomotives that meet EPA tier standards. As a result, about 97% of Union Pacific's locomotives now comply with EPA emissions standards, showcasing the company's dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability.
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Investing in battery-electric yard locomotives
Union Pacific is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and has taken several steps towards this goal. In early 2022, the company announced an investment in North America's largest carrier-owned fleet of battery-electric locomotives for use in rail yard operations. This initiative is part of Union Pacific's Climate Action Plan, which was released in 2021 and included a target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 26% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline.
The battery-electric locomotives are a significant part of Union Pacific's strategy to reduce pollution from their trains and achieve net-zero emissions. These locomotives are designed for use in rail yard operations, where they can help improve air quality and reduce emissions. Union Pacific also plans to evaluate the potential of using these locomotives for long-haul shipments during the test phase.
Union Pacific's investment in battery-electric locomotives is a crucial step towards their sustainability goals and demonstrates their commitment to environmental stewardship.
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Reducing fuel consumption
Union Pacific has implemented several measures to reduce fuel consumption and, in turn, lower greenhouse gas emissions.
One key initiative is the use of energy management systems such as Trip Optimizer and LEADER, which work like "cruise control" for trains. These systems automatically control a locomotive's throttle and dynamic brake, reducing fuel usage and optimising train handling. By 2022, Union Pacific had expanded the use of these systems to roughly 75% of its active locomotive fleet, resulting in a reduction of more than 11 million gallons of fuel in 2021 compared to 2020.
In addition to energy management systems, Union Pacific has also invested in modernising its locomotive fleet. In 2021, the company upgraded 120 older locomotives, making them up to 5% more fuel-efficient and reducing emissions by approximately 53%. The company continued this effort in 2022, announcing a $1 billion investment to upgrade 600 locomotives between 2023 and 2025. These modernisations are expected to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 210,000 tons annually.
Union Pacific has also turned its attention to using low-carbon fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, which burn cleaner and are made from renewable resources. Over the last few years, the company has increased its use of these low-carbon fuels, and by 2025, it plans to have them account for 10% of its total diesel consumption, driving it to 20% by 2030.
Furthermore, Union Pacific has implemented operational efficiencies, such as standardising procedures to turn locomotives off instead of letting them idle. This initiative has led to an 18% reduction in unproductive idling per locomotive in the Rocky Mountain Service Unit.
By combining the use of energy management systems, modernised locomotives, low-carbon fuels, and operational efficiencies, Union Pacific is making significant strides in reducing fuel consumption and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
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Using energy management systems
Union Pacific has implemented several measures to reduce pollution from its trains, including the use of energy management systems. These systems are designed to optimize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. By leveraging technology such as GE's Trip Optimizer and New York Air Brake's LEADER (Locomotive Engineer Assist/Display and Event Recorder), Union Pacific can improve the fuel efficiency of its locomotives, resulting in lower operating expenses and reduced emissions.
Energy management systems function similarly to cruise control in automobiles. They take into account factors such as topography, train length, weight, and tonnage to optimize power and speed, thereby reducing fuel consumption. These systems use data from Positive Train Control (PTC) and real-time feedback from engineers and software developers to "understand" train movements and make adjustments.
In 2022, Union Pacific expanded its use of Energy Management Systems (EMS) to approximately 75% of its active locomotive fleet, resulting in a reduction of over 11 million gallons of fuel consumption compared to 2020. This expansion has contributed to the company's overall fuel efficiency improvements and record-setting fuel consumption efficiency.
The use of energy management systems is just one aspect of Union Pacific's commitment to environmental sustainability. The company has also invested in modernizing its locomotives, utilizing low-carbon fuels, and transitioning to battery-electric locomotives to further reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Additionally, Union Pacific has set ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, pledging to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
By utilizing energy management systems and implementing other sustainable practices, Union Pacific is taking a leading role in the rail industry's efforts to reduce pollution and minimize its environmental impact. These initiatives not only benefit the company's operations but also contribute to global efforts to address climate change and create a more sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Union Pacific has implemented several initiatives to reduce pollution from their trains, including:
- Using energy management systems, fuel reduction technology, low-carbon fuels, modernized locomotives, and battery electric locomotives.
- Reducing fuel consumption by employing technology and operational efficiencies.
- Upgrading older locomotives to make them more fuel-efficient and reduce emissions.
- Investing in battery-electric yard locomotives and exploring the use of battery-electric road locomotives.
- Collaborating with partners such as GreenBiz Network and the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance to identify opportunities to reduce environmental impact.
- Standardizing processes to turn locomotives off instead of letting them idle, reducing unproductive idling.
- Investing in composite railroad ties made from recycled plastic, which can also be recycled at the end of their life.
- Recycling scrap metal, oil, and fuel at their facilities.
- Implementing stormwater management and spill prevention measures to protect water resources.
- Working with scientists to identify vulnerable spots along their network and create a resiliency plan to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events.
Union Pacific released its first Climate Action Plan in 2021, setting a target to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline. The company also aims to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
On average, Union Pacific moves a ton of freight 444 miles on a gallon of diesel fuel. Trains are up to four times more fuel-efficient than trucks, which means moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by up to 75%.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), freight railroads only account for 0.5% of total U.S. GHG emissions and 2% of emissions from transportation-related sources. This is despite railroads moving approximately one-third of all U.S. exports and intercity freight volume.
Union Pacific has implemented several measures to reduce GHG emissions from locomotives, including:
- Investing in technology such as Trip Optimizer® and LEADER®, which work like cruise control to reduce fuel usage and emissions.
- Standardizing processes to turn locomotives off instead of letting them idle.
- Overhauling and modernizing existing locomotives to meet more stringent emissions standards.
- Investing in Tier 4 single-engine switching locomotives for use in California rail yards.
- Equipping most of their high-horsepower locomotive fleet with energy management systems (EMS) by 2025.
Union Pacific is committed to setting science-based targets through the Science Based Targets Initiative to reduce GHG emissions and support global climate change goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. The company is taking action to reduce its environmental impact and create a more sustainable future.
