Hydrogen and Hydrogen Blended Pipelines

Background

With the United States’ renewed interest in hydrogen as an energy carrier and the recent proposals for federally-funded hydrogen hubs, Delaware Riverkeeper Network has been closely monitoring hydrogen/hydrogen blended pipelines as part of our advocacy efforts.

Pure hydrogen gas (H₂) is the smallest and most slippery of molecules, meaning it requires very specific infrastructure to prevent it from leaking and embrittling pipelines. As it stands today, there are only 1,600 miles of pure hydrogen pipelines in the United States (compared to 3 million miles of natural gas pipelines). This is troublesome for proponents of a national hydrogen network, who have aspirations of hydrogen being widely distributed to heat our homes, run our gas stoves, and generate electricity.

To mediate the lack of existing infrastructure for pure hydrogen transport, operators have turned to the idea of blending small amounts of hydrogen gas with natural gas, and transporting that mixture through our existing, extensive natural gas network.

Experts have cited a variety of concerns with hydrogen blending in pipelines, which has been untruthfully advertised as a stepping stone to decarbonization. From public safety issues, to economic concerns, to the entirely unestablished regulatory framework for overseeing hydrogen blends in pipelines, the bottom line is this: the rush to introduce hydrogen into our energy system in this way is not safe for our people or our planet.

Currently, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, as a leader in the Victory Over InFRACKstructure, Clean Energy inStead (VOICES) Coalition, has signed onto comments to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) asking them to forgo their information collection requests on hydrogen blending and just say no to hydrogen blending in pipelines. Should PHMSA still pursue hydrogen blending as an option, we have also signed onto comments demanding better safety, research, and information access measures before allowing hydrogen blending to occur.

Learn more about the problems with hydrogen/hydrogen blended pipelines with our resources below.