A global H2 monitoring network for the energy transition

Abstract

During the energy transition, hydrogen (H2) is expected to become an increasingly important energy carrier. This will likely cause increased levels of atmospheric H2, due to unavoidable losses during the production, transport, storage, and usage of hydrogen. Multiple studies have shown that through interaction with the hydroxyl radical, global tropospheric and stratospheric composition could be impacted. To understand, attribute, and possibly mitigate such impacts a solid global H2 monitoring network is needed. In this study, we evaluate the monitoring capacity of the current global H2 observation network using simulations with the TM5 chemistry-transport model. We implemented ‘tagged’ tracers to attribute H2 increments to various sources for different leakage rates, in different geographical regions, and in different parts of the H2 value chain (transport, production, transfer, etc.). From this, we try to design an extended H2 observation network needed to monitor future changes in the behaviour of H2 sources and sinks. Finally, we are working to implement the hydrogen isotope Deuterium (HD) into our TM5 model. We aim to assess what HD monitoring network is required to perform source attribution according to hydrogen production method, given the expected varying discrimination against the heavier HD isotope of green, blue, and grey hydrogen production.