Risk-based Regulatory Design for the Safe Use of Hydrogen / OECD.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

OECD, author, issuing body.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Environmental protection.

Economic development.

Climatic changes.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (432 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Paris : OECD Publishing, 2023.

Summary:

Low-emission hydrogen is expected to play an important role in the energy transition to tackle the climate crisis. It can decarbonate "hard-to-abate" sectors still relying on fossil fuels, turn low-carbon electricity into a fuel that can be transported using pipelines and provide a green transport alternative, in particular for heavy-duty and long-distance transport. Given its potential to combat climate change, it can allow for a net reduction in societal risks if managed responsibly. However, while its potential is widely acknowledged, its application is not yet meeting ambitions. Regulation is crucial to facilitate its application and ensure its safety. This report analyses trends, risks, and regulation of hydrogen technologies across economies. It supports the use of low-emission hydrogen as part of the energy transition, by making recommendations for effective risk-based regulation, regulatory delivery and governance.

Contents:

Intro

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations and acronyms

Executive summary

Advances in knowledge and technologies allow for a better management of hydrogen risks

Holistic risk assessments can ensure regulation effectively balances the multiple risks at stake

Additional caution should be applied where necessary and when risks are still largely unknown

Risk-focused regulatory delivery can reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens

Effective communication and guidance can support public trust and an enabling investment climate

Role clarity, effective co-ordination and sufficient resources can empower public institutions to keep pace with changes

1 Recommendations for the smooth development and rollout of hydrogen applications

How safe, and how strictly regulated, is hydrogen? - Challenges in comparing different technologies and fuels

The impossibility of a reliable comparison of accident rates

Is hydrogen "reasonably safe" in its key applications for the energy transition?

Accounting for risk reduction due to hydrogen use

What levels of regulation does hydrogen face?

Analysing risks

Identifying risks

Recommendations

Weighing risks and uncertainty

Designing regulation

Managing risks

Tailoring burdens

Empowering institutions

Providing frameworks

Developing skills and capacity

Working together

Co-ordinating actions

Explaining choices

Monitoring practice

Supervising compliance

Incorporating new knowledge

Annex 1.A. Safety measures and regulations

References

Notes

2 Hydrogen in context

Hydrogen in the energy transition.

Hydrogen strategies: ambitious and urgent goals for the Netherlands and the EU

Status quo and future trends in hydrogen use worldwide

Future trends

Understanding and managing hydrogen risk

3 Regulatory governance and delivery in the energy transition

Regulating innovation in the energy transition

Regulatory policy and governance

Risks in regulation

The agility of regulation

Regulatory delivery in the energy transition

Licensing

Inspections and enforcement

Exercising precaution

Precaution principle as regulatory approach

Risk trade-offs

Iterative approach

Socio-political context

Behavioural biases and public perceptions

Precaution applied to innovation

Safety-by-design

4 Hydrogen governance in the Netherlands

How is hydrogen currently regulated in the Netherlands?

Existing regulatory framework

On-going initiatives

Legislation

Principles and guidelines

Framework for pilots

Institutional context

Institutional context for hydrogen

Licensing and inspections for hydrogen activities

Inspection

Conduciveness of regulatory framework

5 Hydrogen applications in practice

Scenario 1 - Production through water electrolysis

State of play

Safety risks and measures

Regulation and regulatory delivery

In the Netherlands

Other countries

International standards

Scenario 2 - Pipeline transport

Scenario 3 - Road transport

Vehicles transporting hydrogen

Hydrogen-powered vehicles

Hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Other countries

Scenario 4 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: tunnels

Scenario 5 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: refuelling stations

Safety risks measures

Scenario 6 - Domestic use

Part I Literature review

6 Examining scenarios involving hydrogen leakage

Structure

Scenario 1 - Production: Leakage from pipes connected to electrolysers

Scenario 2 - Transport pipelines: Leakage from high-pressure pipeline

Scenario 3 - Road transport: Hydrogen leakage in confined spaces/ built environments

Scenario 4 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: Examples of this scenario include a hydrogen city bus driving in a tunnel is involved in a collision traffic accident

Scenario 5 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: Accidents at a hydrogen refuelling stations

Scenario 6 - Domestic use: safety of hydrogen in buildings with focus on hydrogen heating of houses

Key takeaways

Areas for further research

Reference

7 Hydrogen safety aspects

Hydrogen properties

Vapour cloud dispersion

Ignition

Ignition sources

Ignition probability

Consequences

Pressure hazards

Fire and thermal hazards

Tank rupture

Safety strategies

Detection sensors

Ventilation

8 Mapping exercise

Scenario 1 - Production: Leakage from the pipe connected to electrolyser.

General concerns on hydrogen production site (Electrolysis)

Pipeworks, focus on those connected to electrolysers

Conclusions and knowledge gaps

Gaps

Scenario 2 - Pipeline transport: leakage from high pressure pipeline

Zoning safety measures

Frequency of failures

The number of leaks and outflow

Scenario 3 - Road transport: H2 leakage in a confined space/ built environment

Sensors in HFCVs

Ventilation in parking garages

Parking state (with a parking time of 8 hours)

Idle state (with start-up and shutdown purge and idling time of 10 minutes)

Accident involving HFCVs

Risk assessment on life safety and financial losses in case of FCV accidents

Scenario 4 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: Examples of this scenario include a hydrogen city bus driving in a tunnel involved in a collision accident

Scenario 5 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: accidents at a hydrogen refuelling stations

Scenario 6 - Domestic use: Safety of hydrogen in buildings with focus on hydrogen based residential heating

Hydrogen leaks from a low-pressure distribution network

Hydrogen dispersion and accumulation in a house following a leak

Hydrogen odourisation

Hydrogen distribution network

Hydrogen usage in buildings

Recommendations from pilot studies

Part II Regulatory review

9 The hydrogen regulatory landscape

Overview and discussion

Production facilities

Pipelines

Road transport and mobility in confined spaces

Hydrogen refuelling stations

Domestic use

Codes and standards related to scenarios.

Good practices for safety in the different hydrogen applications

10 Review of hydrogen safety regulations

Australia

General legal framework for hydrogen

Existing regulation for the six scenarios

Scenario 1 - Production

Scenario 2 - Transport pipelines

Scenario 4 - Mobility and partially confined space: tunnels

Authorities and institutions in charge of regulating hydrogen

China

Scenarios 2 and 3 - Transport pipelines and road transport

Additional data on specific standards and regulations

France

Scenarios 4 and 5 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: tunnels and refuelling stations

Additional national standards (recommendations) related to the 6 scenarios

Hydrogen vehicles regulations

Germany

Scenario 4 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: tunnels.

Scenario 5 - Mobility and partially confined spaces: refuelling stations.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

92-64-62880-0

OCLC:

1420627224