pre-Normative Research on Hydrogen Releases Assessment

Project Information

NHyRA

Grant agreement ID: 101137770

DOI

10.3030/101137770

EC signature date 17 December 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2026

Funded under

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Total cost

€ 2 086 683,75

EU contribution

€ 2 086 683,75

Coordinated by

SNAM SPA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NHyRA (pre-Normative Research on Hydrogen Releases Assessment)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The transition to a hydrogen-based energy system is accelerating across Europe, driven by the need to decarbonize industry, transport, and energy production. However, a critical knowledge gap persists regarding the quantification of hydrogen (H2) emissions along the entire value chain. While numerous studies have assessed the risks of H2 leakage in emergency scenarios, there is a lack of standardized and reliable data on routine, anthropogenic hydrogen emissions. This gap hinders the ability to perform scientifically validated assessments of hydrogen’s climate impact, particularly its indirect contribution to atmospheric chemistry and global warming.
To address this challenge, the NHyRA project was launched with the aim of delivering a comprehensive and open-access inventory of hydrogen emissions that will serve as a reference for researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers. The project also seeks to develop and validate experimental, theoretical, and simulation-based methodologies for detecting and quantifying hydrogen emissions—both small and large—under real-world conditions.
In parallel, NHyRA will produce a user-friendly simulation tool to support stakeholders in estimating emissions across various hydrogen supply chain configurations. This tool will be designed to be accessible and adaptable, enabling its use in policy analysis, industrial planning, and climate modeling.
The project aims to provide a complete picture of hydrogen release scenarios by 2030 and 2050, supporting the prioritization of effective mitigation strategies.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

During the first 18 months of the NHyRA project, the consortium has made significant progress in developing a comprehensive framework for assessing hydrogen emissions across the entire value chain. The work began with the identification and characterization of key technologies—referred to as “archetypes”—that represent typical systems where anthropogenic hydrogen releases are likely to occur. These archetypes span production, storage, transport, and end-use applications, and were organized into a structured inventory that includes both qualitative and, where available, quantitative data. This inventory will be continuously updated through literature reviews and contributions from project partners, ensuring it reflects the most current understanding of hydrogen release sources.
In parallel, the project focused on selecting and evaluating the most promising technologies for detecting and quantifying hydrogen emissions. These include portable detectors, acoustic imaging systems, and high-flow sampling methods. Standardized procedures were developed for both leak detection and emission quantification, with particular attention to safety in potentially explosive environments. For emission sources that are difficult to measure directly—such as those resulting from incomplete combustion or accidental releases—calculation-based methods were developed using empirical correlations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. These methods were integrated into a user-friendly graphical tool designed to support stakeholders in estimating emissions under various scenarios.
A first field campaign was successfully conducted at ENGIE’s H2 Factory in Paris, where the selected detection and quantification methods were applied in real-world conditions. The results confirmed the feasibility of the approaches and provided valuable data for further refinement. Additional field tests and laboratory validations are planned to expand the scope and robustness of the methodologies.
The project also initiated the development of a simulation tool to estimate hydrogen emissions across the value chain. After defining the tool’s objectives and functionalities through collaborative workshops, a first mock-up was created and tested on hydrogen storage and electrolysis systems.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Although still in progress, NHyRA has already made important contributions that go beyond the current state of knowledge. The project has established the first systematic framework for categorising hydrogen release sources across the entire value chain, including a preliminary open-access inventory of technologies and processes (“archetypes”) where emissions may occur. This provides a scientific foundation for future quantification and mitigation strategies. In parallel, NHyRA has identified and begun validating advanced methodologies for detecting and measuring hydrogen emissions. These include portable detectors, acoustic cameras, and high-flow sampling techniques, complemented by calculation-based and simulation models for sources not directly measurable. Standardised procedures incorporating safety and quality assurance requirements have been drafted, representing an essential step towards harmonised approaches across Europe.
The project in now focused on the development of the first prototype of a simulation tool to estimate hydrogen emissions under different configurations of the supply chain. Once fully developed, this tool will help industry, policymakers, and researchers identify critical components, evaluate mitigation measures, and support climate modelling.
Finally, NHyRA has initiated early engagement with European standardisation bodies and related initiatives, thereby opening a pathway for its methodologies to inform new standards and technical specifications.

Temporal and spacial measurement scale for site covering

H2 value chain