China Advances Hydrogen Pipeline Technology Amidst Safety Concerns

On June 25, 2023, China successfully completed its first high-pressure pure hydrogen pipeline test in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Experts are emphasizing the need for increased research into risk control for hydrogen transportation via pipelines, anticipating a surge in the country's production and consumption of this clean energy as China strives for carbon neutrality.

At the 8th China International Pipeline Conference and Exhibition in Beijing, Jiao Fangzheng, chairman of the Chinese Petroleum Society, highlighted the growing use of pipeline hydrogen transport as a key element of the global shift towards green and low-carbon practices within the pipeline sector. He noted that hydrogen pipelines have become a strategic focus for European and American countries, reflecting the industry's commitment to the Paris Agreement and its goals to limit global temperature increases.

Hydrogen offers a potential clean fuel solution, as it burns without producing carbon dioxide, releasing only water. Globally, planned hydrogen pipelines exceed 12,000 kilometers, with over 5,000 km dedicated to hydrogen transport currently under construction. The technology for blending hydrogen with natural gas in pipelines is advancing, running in parallel with the development of pure hydrogen transport methods.

Han Enhou, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, pointed out the rapidly increasing demand for hydrogen pipeline transport, driven by rising global and domestic hydrogen production. He stressed the importance of pipelines for transporting hydrogen within China, especially considering the geographical disparity between clean energy sources, primarily in the west and northwest, and the major consumption areas in the southeastern coastal regions. Pipeline transportation offers a continuous supply at low costs.

However, the technology for hydrogen transport is not yet fully mature, despite trials involving hydrogen-natural gas mixtures. Safety risks remain a concern. Han outlined several key issues for safe operation, including the need for evaluations before repurposing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport and assessing the impact of existing defects. Other considerations include safety assessments for hydrogen pipelines, determining optimal hydrogen ratios in mixtures, and calculating the remaining operational lifespan of pipelines.

Currently, there is a lack of risk assessment techniques and safety evaluation standards for pipelines transporting either pure hydrogen or hydrogen-natural gas mixtures. Establishing such standards is challenging due to insufficient foundational research. Han encouraged companies in the sector to intensify research efforts to address these issues and ensure the safety of hydrogen transportation.