Climate impacts of a hydrogen economy to be investigated

Experts on hydrogen from 12 institutions throughout Europe, including the University of Reading, are set to take part in a new hydrogen research project funded by the European Union. 

The studies will provide an understanding of the climate and environmental risks and co-benefits of a hydrogen economy. Experts will advise on options for addressing those risks.  

The four-year-long HYway project, funded under the Horizon Europe programme, was launched this week in Oslo. Professor Bill Collins, Atmospheric Chemistry and Earth System Modelling at the University of Reading, is part of the project and will lead research into the ‘hydrogen budget’, helping to develop an understanding of the rate at which hydrogen is emitted into the atmosphere against the rate at which it is removed.

Professor Collins said: “Hydrogen could be a game-changer in our fight against climate change. It has the potential to replace fossil fuels in industries, transportation, and home heating. However, we must be cautious. While hydrogen isn't a greenhouse gas itself, it can indirectly warm our planet. The HYway project will help us understand these effects and how to mitigate them. By using hydrogen smartly, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and pave the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future."

New ways to measure hydrogen’s impact

According to the European Commission’s A hydrogen strategy for a climate-neutral Europe” (2020), hydrogen is “essential to support the EU’s commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and for the global effort to implement the Paris Agreement while working towards zero pollution.”  

Yet, its climate impacts are less understood compared to some of the main greenhouse gases. While not a greenhouse gas itself, hydrogen can cause global warming through its effect in the atmosphere on other greenhouse gases.   

To quantify the climate effect of hydrogen, the HYway project will develop new methodologies using a large number of models and measurements. To quantify hydrogen leakages new measurement and monitoring tools will be established.  

Dr Gunnar Myhre, project co-lead, said: “As hydrogen is a costly and a valuable resource, it is crucial to understand how hydrogen can be utilized for achieving the highest reduction in fossil fuel emissions.” 

Dr Maria Sand, senior scientist at CICERO Centre for International Climate Research and coordinator of the new research project HYway, said: “The HYway project will provide critical information to policymakers and stakeholders, allowing them to make informed decisions about the role of hydrogen in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

HYway includes research partners from Norway, France, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Sweden, Cyprus and the UK. Furthermore, a large advisory board of industry partners will assist in estimating hydrogen leakage rates and in establishing realistic scenarios for a future hydrogen economy.