Hydrogen in homes is 'a dangerous pipe dream' — the leaky US gas grid will not be able to safely handle H2: report
Utilities are using clean H2 as an excuse to delay the phase out of natural gas, says non-profit Food & Water Watch
Hydrogen: hype, hope and the hard truths around its role in the energy transition
“Hydrogen is the smallest element and is very likely to leak from pipelines designed for natural gas,” it says. “Depending on the type of material and on the construction of the pipeline, hydrogen leaks at about three to five times the rate of methane.”
“Even the best-designed pipes are prone to leaks when added [hydrogen] supply increases operating pressures on local distribution lines.”
On top of this, hydrogen can cause embrittlement, damaging pipes and therefore increasing the risk of cracks and ruptures.
“Despite these dangers, hydrogen transport is regulated far less in the US than in other countries,” says the study.
It points out that only 30% of existing gas distribution mains in the US were installed this century, while nearly 10% were built before 1940 or have no known installation dates.
“These older pipes are particularly prone to leakage, contributing to an estimated 659,000 leaks from the gas distribution system in the US annually,” the report explains, citing a 2020 peer-reviewed scientific study.
While proponents often argue that the existing gas infrastructure is an asset that should continue to be used as the country decarbonises over the coming decades, “a close investigation of natural gas infrastructure shows that there is little worth saving,” states the watchdog.
Blending
Food & Water Watch argues that when utilities promote the use of hydrogen in existing fossil-fuel pipeline, “what is really being pushed is a dangerous scheme to mix relatively small amounts of ‘clean’ hydrogen into the natural gas fuel stock” — ie, blending.
“This plan would prolong the life of existing fossil fuel infrastructure and let utilities profit from their ongoing dirty investments,” it says.
“Further, using hydrogen in existing fossil fuel infrastructure faces severe technological, environmental and economic challenges.
“These proposals to replace natural gas with hydrogen [in the power sector] only serve to justify inaction and distract from economically feasible and environmentally sound energy storage solutions.”
The report points out that about three times as much hydrogen is required to produce the same amount of energy as natural gas due to its lower volumetric energy density.
“So, at power plants, blending 5% hydrogen only reduces natural gas use by 2%,” it says, adding that the use of hydrogen will also add “significant costs”.
Health risks
The paper also states that even small amounts of hydrogen in the gas supply “could pose tremendous risk to people who use gas in their homes or live near gas storage facilities and pipelines”.
“Adding hydrogen into the mix will increase the risk of pipeline blowouts and explosions of gas-powered appliances.”
It explains: “Hydrogen gas travels at a high speed, making flash-back (when flame travels back toward the source) in burners more likely, thereby necessitating different water heaters, boilers, and stoves that can accommodate a mix of hydrogen and methane.”
This contradicts proponents of blending, who frequently argue that existing appliances can safely manage hydrogen blends of up to 20%.
“Lower air requirements make hydrogen more likely to burn backward into pipes, generating high-pressure explosions that destroy buildings and throw shrapnel,” it adds, citing a US congressional report from 2021.
“Explosion is more likely with hydrogen, as igniting hydrogen requires significantly less energy than natural gas,” the US watchdog’s report adds, citing peer-reveiewed scientific studies. “Hydrogen is 14 times as flammable as natural gas and can be ignited by static electricity.
“Friction, heat, and electrical fields can all ignite hydrogen.”
Conclusion
The report argues that electric heating solutions based on the direct use of renewable energy “have a proven track record at low costs”.
By contrast, “a hydrogen future would be an expensive and frightening mess”.
“But these outcomes could be easily avoided so long as political leaders recognise these hydrogen blending schemes for what they are: A last ditch attempt to protect a dying industry from safer, more effective technologies.
“It’s time to fight for a renewable and electric future — one that we have the power to win.”
- Food & Water Watch describes itself as a watchdog that fights for safe food, clean water and a livable climate” and to “protect people from the corporations and other destructive economic interests that put profit ahead of everything else”.