Atmospheric implications of increased hydrogen use
Research into the atmospheric impacts of fugitive hydrogen emissions in a future UK hydrogen economy.
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This study used current climate and atmospheric chemistry models to explore the atmospheric impacts of a global hydrogen economy. It modelled atmospheric impacts and calculated the radiative forcing resulting from hydrogen emissions and hydrogen’s global warming potential.
The findings from the study show that use of hydrogen as a substitute for carbon-containing fossil fuels such as natural gas would prevent emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, with significant climate benefits. However, any leakage of hydrogen will affect atmospheric composition (with implications for air quality) and have an indirect warming effect on climate, partially offsetting some of the climate benefits of the reduction in carbon dioxide.
The report therefore recommends that hydrogen leakage is minimised and that consideration be given to how hydrogen is used to reduce the atmospheric impacts of energy use. For more information on how government is working to reduce and understand more about hydrogen leakage, see the government response on Designing a UK low carbon hydrogen standard and the research report on Fugitive hydrogen emissions in a future hydrogen economy.
The study was commissioned by BEIS and conducted by the University of Cambridge and the National Centre for Atmospheric Sciences with the University of Reading.