Released November 18, 2022 | SUGAR LAND
en
Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Today, most hydrogen is produced close to its end use, needing little transportation infrastructure. That's because it is usually created from natural gas or coal, for use in refining fossil fuels, so the source is basically the same as the end user. As hydrogen demand spreads into transportation, industry, power generation and other uses, it will be increasingly necessary to transport it, says the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its Global Hydrogen Review 2022.
What Could Push Transportation Growth
In the future, hydrogen production is likely to change from natural gas (a carbon-intensive process) to using electricity from wind or solar farms to power electrolysis. Electrolysis creates hydrogen gas by using that electric power to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of water molecules. In the IEA's words, "(T)he cost advantages of producing large volumes of hydrogen in areas with high wind and solar resources for electricity generation or with the potential to store CO2 could drive hydrogen infrastructure development."
This will be especially necessary as hydrogen demand grows as a result of governments pushing for and enabling more hydrogen use.
Getting Hydrogen from Point A to Point B
Transitioning current energy transportation infrastructure, such as pipelines, trucking, shipping and others, faces a number of challenges. Natural gas and hydrogen have some similarities, both being a gas that can be liquefied--but the comparisons end there.
In the words of the IEA report, "Developing the infrastructure for hydrogen transmission is not a minor undertaking: It is challenged by the low-energy density of hydrogen (one cubic meter of hydrogen only contains a third of the energy of a cubic meter of natural gas at the same pressure and temperature) and its low boiling point, which is -253 degrees Celsius (C) compared with -162 C for natural gas."
The Pipeline Option
In the U.S., currently there are 2,600 kilometers (just more than 1,600 miles) of hydrogen pipelines, compared with 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) in Europe. The IEA report suggests options for quickly expanding this infrastructure.
The most available option for hydrogen transportation would seem to be in repurposing natural gas pipelines that transfer it in gaseous form. The agency expects natural gas pipelines to become available as fossil fuel demand decreases over the next 30 years.
Two issues with this outlook currently are: Natural gas production and demand are currently growing in light of shortages created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and hydrogen is much harder on pipelines structurally than is natural gas. It will likely require changes in valves, compression and other hardware.
Even with those retrofit requirements, repurposing existing natural gas lines could save 50-80% of the costs compared to installing new infrastructure. This is an appealing idea, as the overall costs of creating new infrastructures will be astronomical on a worldwide basis. Alternatively, the IEA suggests constructing new hydrogen-specific pipelines parallel to existing natural gas lines, because the rights of way already have been obtained. That would save some costs and would speed up permitting.
Hydrogen Blending
Blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines is another variation, one that would use existing pipe configuration with few changes. Already some power plants in the U.S. and abroad are planning to integrate hydrogen incrementally for power generation. Blended transportation networks are being planned in Utah, New Jersey, Oregon and New York. Some reports show that levels of 5-10% hydrogen would require few changes. Networks that use polymer-based pipelines could handle up to 20% hydrogen.
By Ship
Overseas transportation would require retrofitting tanker ships. In this scenario, the hydrogen could be transported in liquefied form or converted to ammonia or synthetic fuel. For the latter two options, the recipients could either reconvert back to hydrogen or use the ammonia or synthetic fuel as it came to them. Reconversion, however, would increase costs.
The shipping industry already is looking into hydrogen as a ship fuel, so the issues of how to safely contain hydrogen in shipping is starting to be addressed.
Large-scale hydrogen use would require massive investments in infrastructure, whether in building new or converting existing pipelines and containers. The U.S.'s Inflation Reduction Act is one example of government action to help fund and pave the way for this change. Governments in Europe and around the world are making similar commitments.
Due to distance, time and cost, transportation issues would seem to be among the more significant obstacles to the dreamed-of "hydrogen economy" happening any time soon.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
What Could Push Transportation Growth
In the future, hydrogen production is likely to change from natural gas (a carbon-intensive process) to using electricity from wind or solar farms to power electrolysis. Electrolysis creates hydrogen gas by using that electric power to separate the hydrogen and oxygen atoms of water molecules. In the IEA's words, "(T)he cost advantages of producing large volumes of hydrogen in areas with high wind and solar resources for electricity generation or with the potential to store CO2 could drive hydrogen infrastructure development."
This will be especially necessary as hydrogen demand grows as a result of governments pushing for and enabling more hydrogen use.
Getting Hydrogen from Point A to Point B
Transitioning current energy transportation infrastructure, such as pipelines, trucking, shipping and others, faces a number of challenges. Natural gas and hydrogen have some similarities, both being a gas that can be liquefied--but the comparisons end there.
In the words of the IEA report, "Developing the infrastructure for hydrogen transmission is not a minor undertaking: It is challenged by the low-energy density of hydrogen (one cubic meter of hydrogen only contains a third of the energy of a cubic meter of natural gas at the same pressure and temperature) and its low boiling point, which is -253 degrees Celsius (C) compared with -162 C for natural gas."
The Pipeline Option
In the U.S., currently there are 2,600 kilometers (just more than 1,600 miles) of hydrogen pipelines, compared with 2,000 kilometers (about 1,250 miles) in Europe. The IEA report suggests options for quickly expanding this infrastructure.
The most available option for hydrogen transportation would seem to be in repurposing natural gas pipelines that transfer it in gaseous form. The agency expects natural gas pipelines to become available as fossil fuel demand decreases over the next 30 years.
Two issues with this outlook currently are: Natural gas production and demand are currently growing in light of shortages created by the Russian invasion of Ukraine; and hydrogen is much harder on pipelines structurally than is natural gas. It will likely require changes in valves, compression and other hardware.
Even with those retrofit requirements, repurposing existing natural gas lines could save 50-80% of the costs compared to installing new infrastructure. This is an appealing idea, as the overall costs of creating new infrastructures will be astronomical on a worldwide basis. Alternatively, the IEA suggests constructing new hydrogen-specific pipelines parallel to existing natural gas lines, because the rights of way already have been obtained. That would save some costs and would speed up permitting.
Hydrogen Blending
Blending hydrogen into natural gas pipelines is another variation, one that would use existing pipe configuration with few changes. Already some power plants in the U.S. and abroad are planning to integrate hydrogen incrementally for power generation. Blended transportation networks are being planned in Utah, New Jersey, Oregon and New York. Some reports show that levels of 5-10% hydrogen would require few changes. Networks that use polymer-based pipelines could handle up to 20% hydrogen.
By Ship
Overseas transportation would require retrofitting tanker ships. In this scenario, the hydrogen could be transported in liquefied form or converted to ammonia or synthetic fuel. For the latter two options, the recipients could either reconvert back to hydrogen or use the ammonia or synthetic fuel as it came to them. Reconversion, however, would increase costs.
The shipping industry already is looking into hydrogen as a ship fuel, so the issues of how to safely contain hydrogen in shipping is starting to be addressed.
Large-scale hydrogen use would require massive investments in infrastructure, whether in building new or converting existing pipelines and containers. The U.S.'s Inflation Reduction Act is one example of government action to help fund and pave the way for this change. Governments in Europe and around the world are making similar commitments.
Due to distance, time and cost, transportation issues would seem to be among the more significant obstacles to the dreamed-of "hydrogen economy" happening any time soon.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
