Digas

What Digas does

Digas (legal entity: SIA DIGAS, headquartered in Riga, Latvia) is a privately held engineering company that designs and integrates retrofit kits to decarbonize existing diesel locomotive fleets. The company's core technology is the proprietary NYSMART dual-fuel system, a modular, electronically controlled kit that enables simultaneous diesel and gaseous fuel (CNG, LNG, biomethane) operation, delivering up to 30% fuel cost reduction, 95% PM emission reduction, and 60% NOx reduction versus diesel baselines. DiGas's portfolio has expanded beyond dual-fuel into a hydrogen ICE retrofit kit (deployed on the Iarnród Éireann 071 Class under a €1.5M contract for Europe's first retrofitted hydrogen freight locomotive), a hydrogen DMU passenger train retrofit (HYIPTRAIN consortium with Microluch), a smart sensor diagnostic system with predictive maintenance for hydrogen locomotives, and a modular lithium-titanate-oxide battery system with a flexible Energy Management System for rolling stock hybridization.

DiGas operates a project-based, enterprise sales model selling retrofit kits plus installation, certification and engineering services directly to railway operators and freight fleet owners across Europe. Primary customers are state-owned and industrial rail operators including Operail (Estonia), Enefit Kaevandused (Estonia), Latvijas Dzelzceļš (Latvia), Orion Kolej (Poland), and Iarnród Éireann (Ireland), with Western European reach delivered through a channel partnership with Arterail (France/Benelux/Italy). Revenue per project is typically in the €250K–€1.5M range, with multi-phase pilot-to-fleet sales cycles. The company is backed by a combination of EU non-dilutive grants (Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Phase 2 €1.3M in 2017, HYIPTRAIN €892K, MASOC battery project €372K, ERDF export assistance), institutional support (EIT Urban Mobility, Expansion Capital), and the strategic partnership with Hydrogen de France (HDF Energy).

Name

Digas

Legal name

SIA DIGAS

Website

https://digasgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digas (SIA DIGAS, Riga, Latvia) designs and installs proprietary NYSMART dual-fuel and hydrogen ICE retrofit kits for European diesel locomotive operators, enabling fuel cost and emissions reductions without purchasing new rolling stock.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Locomotive Decarbonization Hardware

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510)

akta.pro primary industry

Reciprocating Engine Generator Sets (Diesel/Gas/HFO) (IMAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Locomotive retrofit systems
• Dual-fuel engine conversion
• Hydrogen ICE technology
• Rail decarbonization solutions
• Railway emission reduction

Headquarters

HQ city

Jurmala

HQ country

Latvia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retrofit Kit Sales & Installation Services: Primary revenue stream — DIGAS manufactures and sells proprietary retrofit kits (NYSMART dual-fuel, H2 ICE, hydrogen injection, battery/EMS systems) and provides integration/retrofit installation services for locomotive fleet operators. Project-based contracts (e.g., €1.5M Iarnród Éireann H2 ICE contract; €892,348 HYIPTRAIN project; €372,472.35 Battery project). Includes hardware sale plus professional services revenue.
2. Professional Services: Engineering, Installation & Commissioning: Engineering design, manufacturing, installation, testing, certification support and commissioning services for dual-fuel and hydrogen locomotive conversions. Includes technical consultation and on-site deployment.
3. IP / Patent Licensing (Potential): Patented NYSMART dual-fuel control method/system could enable future licensing/royalty revenue. Source documents describe the patented proprietary technology but do not confirm explicit licensing transactions.
4. Public Funding / Grants: Significant non-dilutive funding from EU Horizon 2020 (€1.3M SME Instrument Phase 2 grant), European Regional Development Fund, Latvian Investment and Development Agency export assistance, Recovery and Resilience Facility, and others. Funds R&D and product development activities.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Digas designs, manufactures, and installs proprietary hardware retrofit kits that convert existing diesel locomotives to operate on cleaner fuels including natural gas (CNG/LNG), biomethane, and hydrogen. The core NYSMART Dual-Fuel System and complementary Hydrogen ICE, battery/EMS, and diagnostic sensor kits are modular solutions installed at operator-owned depots, accompanied by engineering, integration, and certification services.

Product overview

Digas (DiGas SIA / Digasgroup) is a Latvian engineering company that provides instant decarbonization solutions for the railway sector through a portfolio of hardware retrofit kits and integration services rather than a single software product. The core offering is the proprietary NYSMART Dual-Fuel System, a modular patented kit that converts diesel locomotive engines to run on natural gas (CNG/LNG) plus diesel. Building on NYSMART, Digas has developed complementary products: a Hydrogen ICE Retrofit Kit (deployed on Irish Rail Class 071 freight locomotives), the HYIPTRAIN hydrogen ICE passenger-train retrofit kit (with consortium partner Microluch), a Smart Sensor Diagnostic System for hydrogen locomotives (predictive-maintenance and anomaly-detection on-board system validated on the Irish Rail 071), and a Modular LTO Battery System with a flexible EMS for railway rolling-stock hybridization. Together these form a hardware-plus-integration platform that targets compliance with EU/ESG decarbonization goals for rail operators at a fraction of the cost of buying new rolling stock.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NYSMART: DiGas's proprietary and patented dual-fuel technology system for modernization of air-polluting diesel locomotives to clean and efficient gas operation (CNG, LNG, BioCNG, BioLNG, RNG).
• HYIPTRAIN

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% reduction in fuel costs
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor — demonstrator customer for battery project, flagship — hyiptrain consortium partner, flagship — flagship hydrogen customer, core — r&d manufacturing partner, flagship — pilot customer, flagship — pilot customer and co-investor, core — western europe channel partner, core — eastern european market entry partner, core — strategic partner, core — industry association partner and minor — installation host.

• SKPL (Poland)minor — demonstrator customer for battery projectStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025SKPL in Poland operates the CSD Class M152.0 / Class 810 railbus — defined as a very important demonstrator use case for the modular LTO battery / EMS project with 6 km one-way routes and 12 round trips per day.
• Microluchflagship — hyiptrain consortium partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Consortium partner with DiGas in the HYIPTRAIN project (start 01.07.2024, end 31.12.2025, total budget €892,348). Together they retrofit a diesel multiple unit (DMU) and its internal combustion engine to hydrogen, setting an example for train operators and hydrogen providers in Europe. 18-month project with 6 major tasks.
• Iarnród Éireann Irish Railflagship — flagship hydrogen customerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2023Contract signed 14 September 2023 for Europe's first retrofitted hydrogen ICE freight locomotive. €1.5M project. Irish Rail provides the 071 Class Diesel Locomotive and workshop; DiGas manufactures, delivers, installs the H2 ICE retrofit kit; Iarnród Éireann brings hydrogen refueling partners. Two testing phases across 2024 and 2025. Co-funded by EIT Urban Mobility and Mechanical Engineering Competence Center.
• ELBORS (Latvia)core — r&d manufacturing partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Research partner for Research Project Nr. 4.3 "Gaseous hydrogen fuel injection system for shunter locomotive engines" under the Mašīnbūves kompetences centrs project (01.02.2023 – 31.12.2024). Also partner on Research Project Nr. 4.9 (smart sensor diagnostic system) and battery/EMS project Nr. Z.3.4. Co-developed the hydrogen injection system from TRL4 to TRL7.
• Enefit Kaevandused (Estonia)flagship — pilot customerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 November 2019MoU signed 28 November 2019 to retrofit and pilot two LNG shunter locomotives (TEM-2 and TEM-18) in Estonia. Estonian state-owned energy company. Expressed interest in retrofitting at least 4 more shunter locomotives if pilot proves feasible. Each retrofitted locomotive delivers ~25,000 EUR/year fuel cost savings.
• Operail (Estonia)flagship — pilot customer and co-investorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2019Cooperation agreement signed 29 October 2019 to retrofit and pilot the first LNG mainline freight locomotive in the Baltics (GE C36). Operail co-invested 250,000 EUR. The locomotive was successfully launched at Operail's Tapa depot and has 30 C36 locomotives in service as candidate for further conversion.
• Arterail (France)core — western europe channel partnerChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 June 2019Partnership agreement signed 30 June 2019 to promote the conversion of diesel locomotives and diesel multiple units to dual-fuel operations in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy. Arterail deploys its engineering and technician workforce to implement DiGas technology into selected locomotives. Headquartered in Lille, France.
• Orion Kolej (Poland)core — eastern european market entry partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019MoU to retrofit the SM42 (most widely used Polish diesel shunter locomotive) to dual-fuel mode using LNG. Modernization at Orion Kolej depot with LNG refueling by Novatek Green Energy. Marked DiGas's first step into the Eastern European market.
• Hydrogen de France (HDF Energy)core — strategic partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed on the DiGas company page as a "Strategic Partner" alongside EIT Urban Mobility (accelerator), Expansion Capital (VC fund), and public funders (European Commission, Latvian Competence Center).
• Mašīnbūves un metālapstrādes asociācija (MASOC)core — industry association partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMASOC and MASOC KC consortium support DiGas research projects (Nr. 4.3, 4.9, Z.3.4) under the Latvian Recovery and Resilience Facility plan. MASOC KC implements project Nr. 1.2.1.2.i.2/1/24/A/CFLA/008 "MASOC KC atbalsts zaļu produktu izstrādei" from 01.06.2024 to 31.12.2027. MASOC experts contributed to technical design and platform.
• Go Rail (Estonia)minor — installation hostImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvided Iru depot (Estonia) where the TEM2 locomotive for Enefit Kaevandused was modernized with NYSMART Dual Fuel system.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Alstom: Global rail OEM with the Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel-cell train in commercial passenger service. Overlaps with DiGas on hydrogen rail decarbonization, but competes via purpose-built new trains rather than diesel retrofits, and addresses the same European national operators (including Iarnród Éireann).
• Stadler Rail: Swiss rolling-stock manufacturer with FLIRT H2 hydrogen trains and broad diesel/bi-mode/hybrid product lines. Comparable to DiGas as a European rail decarbonization supplier, but competes with new-build hydrogen and hybrid platforms rather than retrofits.
• CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles): Spanish rolling-stock OEM developing hydrogen and hybrid trains for European operators. Comparable to DiGas as a supplier to the same European rail customers pursuing decarbonization, but addresses demand via new vehicles rather than retrofit kits.
• Cummins: Global engine manufacturer with natural gas and hydrogen engine programs, including rail and heavy-duty applications. Comparable to DiGas in dual-fuel engine technology but serves a much broader industrial customer base rather than specializing in locomotive retrofits.
• Siemens Mobility: Major rail OEM offering the Mireo Plus H hydrogen train and broad electrification portfolios. Competes with DiGas for European rail decarbonization budgets, but via new rolling stock rather than retrofit; both serve the same set of European national and private operators.
• Rolls-Royce (mtu / Power Systems): Through its mtu business, supplies large diesel and hydrogen-ready engines for rail, marine, and stationary applications, including announced H2-ICE rail engines. Comparable technology stack to DiGas's H2 ICE and dual-fuel work, but at much larger scale and via new engines rather than retrofit kits.

Emerging players

• Ballard Power Systems: Leading hydrogen fuel-cell stack supplier with rail deployments (e.g., Coradia iLint fuel cells, passenger trains in Europe). Competes for the same hydrogen-rail budgets but via fuel cells rather than H2 ICE retrofits, positioning it as a partial-substitute technology peer.
• HDF Energy (Hydrogen de France): Listed as a strategic partner of DiGas and an independent hydrogen power producer developing hydrogen-electric locomotives (e.g., with Alstom, others). Overlaps with DiGas's hydrogen rail mission and is explicitly positioned alongside the company on DiGas's own partner page.

Direct peers

• Westport Fuel Systems: Specialist in alternative-fuel engine systems (CNG, LNG, hydrogen components) for transportation. Highly comparable technology focus to DiGas's NYSMART dual-fuel system, with overlapping patent and product portfolios in diesel-gas engine control.
• Wabtec: Owns GE Transportation and modernizes freight locomotives including the GE C36 platform DiGas retrofitted for Operail. Most direct comparable peer: a Tier-1 incumbent in diesel locomotive modernization competing head-to-head with DiGas's NYSMART LNG dual-fuel offering on freight operators.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=3wupUQ0T16I
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digasgroup

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Digas