Hydrogen emissions from the hydrogen value chain-emissions profile and impact to global warming

Abstract

Future energy systems could rely on hydrogen (H₂) to achieve decarbonisation and net-zero goals. In a similar energy landscape to natural gas, H₂ emissions occur along the supply chain. It has been studied how current gas infrastructure can support H₂, but there is little known about how H₂ emissions affect global warming as an indirect greenhouse gas. In this work, we have estimated for the first time the potential emission profiles (g CO_2eq/MJ H_2,HHV) of H₂ supply chains, and found that the emission rates of H₂ from H₂ supply chains and methane from natural gas supply are comparable, but the impact on global warming is much lower based on current estimates. This study also demonstrates the critical importance of establishing mobile H₂ emission monitoring and reducing the uncertainty of short-lived H₂ climate forcing so as to clearly address H₂ emissions for net-zero strategies.

Keywords: Climate change; Greenhouse gas emissions; Hydrogen; Hydrogen emissions; Net-zero.