In the NBC news clip below, viewers are introduced to the future fuel behind CSR Project 130: torrefied biomass. Tim Hagen, a chemical engineer with the National Resource Research Institute (NRRI), has been a key partner of CSR in developing the clean fuel to power locomotive 3463.
NRRI and CSR are confident that torrefied biomass will play a significant role outside passenger rail as well. As described in the clip, the fuel can be densified and processed to meet various needs, including pellets for use in home heaters or briquettes for use in modern steam locomotives. NRRI and CSR are actively pursuing options to begin production of torrefied biomass on a pre-commercial scale and are well on the way to having a viable, commercial fuel product.