Safety

HYDROGEN SAFETY: EXPLAINED

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Hydrogen and its derivatives have been safely produced, transported, and used for decades.

Hydrogen and hydrogen-derived products are attracting increased attention and investment in the low-carbon energy transition across the globe, buoyed by the push to harness their potential as sustainable energy resources across multiple sectors of the economy.

For hydrogen to realize its full potential, all stakeholders – across industry, government, academia, and the general public – need to create a shared understanding and trust that it can be transported, stored and used in a safe manner.

 

Hydrogen has been safely used in the United States for decades

Hydrogen has been safely produced and used around the globe since the turn of the 20th century. In 1955, the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), a leading organization that establishes standards and practices for gases, published the first safety standard for hydrogen as the United States was using hydrogen as rocket fuel during the space race.

The CGA has continued to lead on that work, most recently launching the Safe Hydrogen Project, a collaborative global effort to develop and distribute safety information regarding the production, storage, transport, and use of hydrogen.

In 2004, ISO published ISO/TR 15916 to provide guidelines for the use of hydrogen in its gaseous and liquid forms as well as its storage in either of these or other forms (hydrides). This International Standard was most recently updated in 2021 and identifies the basic safety concerns, hazards and risks, and describes the properties of hydrogen that are relevant to safety. Detailed safety requirements associated with specific hydrogen applications are also addressed in separate International Standards.

Safety is a collective goal of the entire global hydrogen industry, and multiple organizations establish and update standards that will impact stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain. Organizations such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) have developed and continue to actively update standards, trainings, and protocols to safeguard all key stakeholders, including consumers, the workforce, and local communities.

 

Safety is the key to expanding the hydrogen market

Every energy source, including hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives, undergoes a rigorous safety and standards review process. Hydrogen has been tested and safely used in industrial processes for more than 75 years, which means that many lessons have been learned and best practices developed. For example, over several decades numerous safety-focused standards for hydrogen applications have been developed, including for fuel cells, industrial processes and pipelines. These standards, combined with training of personnel and numerous technological innovations, are key to ensuring that hydrogen can be used safely in new applications – like transportation and power generation.

Hydrogen producers and developers have invested in building the expertise, the technology, and the infrastructure to use the gas in multiple sectors. These experts are the best equipped to continue to study, manage, store, and move it safely.

 

Investing in the hydrogen workforce

The safety and wellbeing of the hydrogen workforce and local communities where hydrogen is produced, stored, and used is a top priority for the industry. Investments have been made in recent years to strengthen safety and environmental protections for hydrogen transportation via pipeline, rail, and other modes.

Organizations like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers offer eLearning courses, seminar-style training sessions on hydrogen safety for users and workers at all levels of the value chain. They have pioneered hydrogen safety education through the Center for Hydrogen Safety, which is committed to delivering educational products to help the industry build the safety skills needed to meet the demands of the growing hydrogen marketplace.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), a federal agency tasked with establishing national policy, setting and enforcing standards, and conducting research to prevent incidents, established new standards for hydrogen infrastructure, proposed new leak detection requirements, and awarded grants to improve safety.

 

The Bottom Line

With thoughtful consideration of its unique properties and the implementation of comprehensive safety measures, hydrogen can be as safe as commonly used fuels today.

 

More resources on hydrogen safety

  • Center for Hydrogen Safety (CHS) – The Center for Hydrogen Safety is a global, neutral and nonprofit membership organization that supports and promotes the safe handling and use of hydrogen across industrial and consumer applications in the energy transition. The Center facilitates access to hydrogen safety experts; develops comprehensive safety guidance, outreach and education materials and activities; and provides a forum to partner on worldwide technical solutions.
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) – PHMSA oversees the transportation of hazardous materials, including energy products, through all modes of the transportation industry—and is focused on the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to mitigating climate change.
  • Hydrogen Council – The Hydrogen Council is a global CEO-led initiative that brings together leading companies with a united vision. The organization publishes the latest industry data, trends, and other insights for stakeholders seeking to deploy hydrogen around the globe.
  • International Organization for Standardization (ISO) – ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 169 national standards bodies. Through its ISO/TC 197 committee, the organization establishes and maintains several internationally recognized hydrogen standards.
  • Safe Hydrogen Project – The Safe Hydrogen Project is a collaborative global effort to develop and distribute safety information for the production, storage, transport, and use of hydrogen. The Safe Hydrogen Project is an initiative of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA) which has been a global leader in hydrogen safety for more than 70 years.
  • H2 Incidents: Hydrogen Incident Reporting Tool – This website records events involving hydrogen and hydrogen-related technologies.
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory H2 Safety Best Practices – This website compiles best practices for hydrogen safety.
  • DOE Hydrogen Safety – This Department of Energy Web site offers hydrogen first-responder training and a hydrogen safety bibliographic database.
  • DOE EERE– This fact sheet summarizes the properties of and safety issues associated with hydrogen.
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory H2Toolsis a best practices resource and free, online national hydrogen safety training resource for emergency responders.
  • Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Safety Report published by the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Associationis a bi-monthly electronic publication which provides information about developing hydrogen and fuel cell codes and standards and related safety information.
  • Introduction to Hydrogen Safety for First Respondersweb-based course, administered by the Center for Hydrogen Safety, provides an “awareness level” hydrogen overview for fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical personnel.