Study explores hydrogen pipeline transportation 

Japanese firm NTT Anode Energy Corporation is carrying out a joint research and development project to study safety measures for the mass transportation of hydrogen through existing pipeline infrastructure.

The study is being performed in collaboration with Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Toyota Tsusho Co.

The work is expected to contribute to the realisation of a pipeline transportation model for hydrogen that could be implemented globally.

According to a paper published by the International Renewable Energy Agency, hydrogen has emerged as “an important part of the clean energy mix needed to ensure a sustainable future”.

However, the large-scale, stable transportation of hydrogen through new pipeline infrastructure faces issues including land acquisition construction costs and building time. The research believes that utilising existing pipeline infrastructure can solve these issues, and the study represents the next step in the model’s proof-of-concept process.

The study will examine a double-piping system in which a hydrogen pipeline is placed in an existing pipe (the “sheath pipe”) buried underground. Factors to be measured and contributed to the formulation of technical standards include:

• On-site investigation of hydrogen leakage detection
• Verification of detection of signs of abnormality
• Establishment of a control sequence to ensure safety
• Performance evaluation of various hydrogen sensors in a real-world environment

Safety measures will be investigated under the assumption of unsteady conditions including rupture accidents and natural disasters during pipeline operation. 

In addition to examining the safety measures necessary for such use of existing pipelines, the study will verify the profitability of such projects, including cost analysis of transportation; energy input; and economic efficiency, as compared to other hydrogen transportation means.

Based on the knowledge and data gained through this project, NTT Anode Energy and its collaborators will promote and establish technical studies on safety measures for practical use. 

Ultimately, the project aims also support the future supply of green hydrogen to urban areas including for the use for fuel cell vehicles.