Hydrogen Blending in Gas Pipelines Faces Challenges, Doubling Leakage and Limiting Emission Reductions, Argonne Research Finds.

Research from the Argonne National Laboratory has revealed that hydrogen blending in existing natural gas pipelines could pose a significant challenge, potentially limiting its viability in current infrastructure. The research, which focused on blending 30 percent hydrogen by volume into existing pipelines, found only a mild 6 percent reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. However, it also revealed that pipeline leakage doubled when hydrogen blending reached the 30 percent threshold. This challenges previous estimates that reduced emissions during hydrogen production and combustion were overlooked the potential drawbacks related to transmission and distribution. If the flow rate is boosted for the same energy delivery, emissions during transmission could rise by 100 percent. The challenge is to find a balance between embracing hydrogen blending for its environmental benefits and addressing the risks.