D3a.1 & D3a.2 Greenhouse potential of hydrogen emissions from the grid - Emission amounts and Priority of reduction

Hydrogen is an indirect greenhouse gas. The word “indirect” indicates that while hydrogen itself does not contribute to global warming, hydrogen in the atmosphere causes other greenhouse gases (mostly methane) to stay in the atmosphere longer. The mechanisms in the atmosphere are complex and the effects of hydrogen in the atmosphere can only be modelled. Because different assumptions can be made during modelling, the extent to which hydrogen contributes to the greenhouse effect is currently ambiguous. 

Hydrogen is one of the promising green energy carriers aiding the creation of a sustainable energy system. The Dutch hydrogen grid will exist of newly installed pipelines and repurposed pipelines from the current natural gas grids. With the transportation of energy, energy is lost, for instance due to leakages if the pipeline is damaged. The main objective of this HyDelta 3.0 work package is to give an indication of the amount of Dutch hydrogen transportation and distribution emissions and the expected contribution to global warming of the atmosphere. It then briefly discusses the best emission reduction steps. 

The expected yearly hydrogen emission of the Dutch hydrogen grids in 2050 is expected to be between 0.7 and 2.4 million kg. When the fugitive emission of the highest scenario (2.4 million kg hydrogen) is compared to the current gas grid, a CO2 equivalent reduction of 92% is achieved. The hydrogen emission values were obtained by multiplying the current emissions from the natural gas networks by the leakage factors of hydrogen and the predicted grid lengths. The emission values of natural gas were based on the OGMP reporting, provided annually by the Dutch DSOs and TSO. The leakage factors were obtained from previous HyDelta research. 

The grids of today are not the grids of the future. Assumptions have been made for the extent of the future hydrogen grid. These numbers are taken from the “Netbeheer Nederland's II3050” report. The upper value (2.4 million kg hydrogen emission) is based on the II3050 international scenario. Here 83% of the current natural gas grid is converted to hydrogen, which is the highest predicted amount. New grids will have fewer losses due to technological advances. These advances have only been taken into account to a limited extent as they are not known yet. Other assumptions were made assuming the most realistic future possible. Where this was impossible, the worst-case scenario was assumed.  

Regardless of the uncertainties from the current period until 2050, this research aimed to provide an indication of the hydrogen emissions that could take place in the future. With this indication, a vision can be drawn up that provides a good consideration in the proportionality of measures that can be taken to reduce hydrogen emissions.