Pre-normative research on hydrogen releases assessment
Credit:
EU, Clean Hydrogen Partnership
Hydrogen is regarded both as an industrial feedstock and as an important energy carrier for the transformation of our energy systems. However, large-scale use may involve technically induced hydrogen releases along the entire value chain, for example through venting, pressure relief or fugitive emissions. Although hydrogen itself does not act directly as a greenhouse gas, it can trigger reactions in the atmosphere that, among other effects, extend the atmospheric lifetime of methane and increase the formation of ozone and water vapour. The research project NHyRA, funded by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, therefore addresses the core problem that the quantities, causes and quantification of current and future hydrogen emissions remain subject to considerable uncertainty and that existing standards or protocols do not yet allow precise assessment.
Research project NHyRA
Duration
January 2024 to December 2026
Funded by
Clean Hydrogen Partnership (Grant Agreement No. 101137770) / supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, Hydrogen Europe and Hydrogen Europe Research
Project participants
DLR Institute of Networked Energy Systems
ENGIE SA
Snam S.p.A.
University of Bologna (Alma Mater Studiorum – Università Di Bologna)
Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (Agenzia nazionale per le nuove tecnologie, l'energia e lo sviluppo economico sostenibile)
Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie Srl – Baker Hughes
Enagás Transporte S.A.U.
Oil and Gas Institute – National Research Institute of Poland (Instytut Nafty i Gazu – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy)
GERG – European Gas Research Group
Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Bruno Kessler Foundation)
NPL Management Ltd
University of Surrey
Linde GmbH
Equinor Energy AS
To address these research gaps, the NHyRA project team investigates and assesses potential hydrogen emissions including the required methodological development as well as determine anthropogenic emissions for medium-term developments up to 2030 and long-term developments up to 2050. On this basis, key components of different hydrogen value chains will be classified according to their estimated hydrogen emission and possible mitigation strategies will be defined. NHyRA also develops and validates suitable methodologies, test methods, protocols, and simulation and forecasting models to quantify potential hydrogen emission. In addition, measurement technologies for detecting and quantifying hydrogen emissions are investigated, and recommendations for standards and technical specifications are proposed.
Within the project, the Institute of Networked Energy Systems is initially identifying critical elements of the hydrogen value chain and collecting and providing data on hydrogen emissions in a standardised format. Also, a representative hydrogen economy scenario is developed based on available reports, which will be used as basis for the future perspectives on potential hydrogen emissions. Throughout the project, the focal point will be laid on developing a methodology for extrapolating emissions data as well as a simulation tool and in order to allow the quantification of potential hydrogen emissions along the entire H₂ value chain.
Our core topics and challenges related to the NHyRA project:
