IDEA-H2: Innovative Detection and Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Leakage in Natural Gas Pipelines.

This project aims to investigate the feasibility of using existing natural gas pipelines to transport and distribute hydrogen for decarbonizing the energy sector. The project will focus on identifying technical challenges, including material brittleness, that could pose a risk to pipeline integrity, and developing strategies to detect hydrogen leaks and minimize environmental impacts. Furthermore, the project will evaluate the potential environmental impact of hydrogen leakage and investigate the feasibility of using existing monitoring technologies to detect and quantify leaks.
To facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange, the project team plans to organize brainstorming meetings and a one-day workshop to bring together stakeholders and scientific scholars to discuss the project's progress and findings. The project team also aims to establish a consortium to apply for a larger- scale project that will explore the project's details further.

The expected outcomes of this project include providing insights into the technical and environmental  challenges associated with using natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transportation, developing strategies to minimize environmental impacts, and paving the way for a safe, sustainable, and cost-effective hydrogen economy. This project is highly relevant for stakeholders involved in the energy transition, and collaboration with RIVM and Gasunie is a testament to the project's importance and potential impact (discussion has been initiated with them).