Joint Research Centre The European Commission’s in-house science service Hydrogen Energy for tomorrow Hydrogen Safety in Storage and Transport Why Hydrogen? Hydrogen is not a primary energy source such as coal computer modellers and technical staff of this project or gas but is an energy carrier (similar to electricity) perform pre-normative and underpinning research and can store and deliver energy in a widely useable for the development and improvement of performance form. It is one of the most promising alternative fuels characterisation methodologies for hydrogen storage, for future transport applications. When produced from detection and safety. In addition, they provide renewable sources it provides pollution-free transport, scientific and technological (S&T) support to without carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and decreases Community and international standardisation and our dependence on dwindling oil reserves. However, regulatory bodies in this field, and act as a reference significant development is needed before hydrogen on hydrogen storage, detection and safety-related can be exploited in the same way as conventional activities in the Commission’s Joint Technology fossil fuels. Initiative (JTI) on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH). Dedicated state-of-the-art testing facilities include How does JRC-IET Contribute to the Safe Use of those for: Hydrogen? •testing full-scale high-pressure hydrogen (and natural Safety, performance and end-use efficiency must be gas) tanks for vehicles; all assured before mass public use of hydrogen is •performance characterisation of materials for solid- possible. This is the motivation behind the Hydrogen state hydrogen storage; Safety in Storage and Transport (HySaST) project as it •performance characterisation of hydrogen sensors for supports the EU drive towards clean and efficient safety. transport technologies. The scientists, engineers, www.jrc.ec.europa.eu These facilities are supplemented by the development and application of computational tools for numerical modelling of hydrogen releases, dispersion and safety scenarios. EU Policy Related to Hydrogen The integrated Energy and Climate Change Package endorsed by the March 2007 Spring Council constitutes the starting point of a European Energy Technology policy reflected in the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. In the Plan, fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are earmarked as critical for enabling the EU to reach its ambitious goals of 20% renewables, 20% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) During this cycling process, the tank is monitored for emissions and 20% energy efficiency increase by leaks and permeation rates. Gas temperature evolution inside and outside the tank is monitored using an ad 2020. hoc designed thermocouple array system. In May 2008, the European Council adopted a Permeation tests: Tanks are filled up to 700 bar and Regulation setting up the FCH JTI to facilitate the the permeation of the system is measured as a function of time. It is possible to control ambient and commercial deployment of fuel cell technologies in a tank temperatures up to at least 85 °C. This results of strong public private partnership. The JTI, with a this pre-normative activity are used to verify present budget of EUR 1 billion during its 2008–2017 lifespan, European and international regulations as well as to prepare their updates. is the first of the set of European Industrial Initiatives identified in the SET Plan. Compressed Hydrogen Storage Storage of gases under pressure, including hydrogen, is a rather well known technique. However, the use of hydrogen tanks in vehicles, and in particular the challenge of using very high pressures, requires new safety and performance studies. The Gas Testing Numerical Modelling Facility is used for carrying out tests on high-pressure vehicle tanks for hydrogen (H2) or natural gas (CH4). The widespread use of hydrogen requires the distribution and storage of large quantities of Typical tests are: hydrogen. Bearing this in mind it is essential to Cycling tests: Vehicle tanks are repeatedly fast-filled understand the safety implications of potential using real gas and emptied slowly at least 1 000 accident situations. The modelling group makes times to simulate their lifetime in a road vehicle. The maximum pressure is 700 bar and the filling time is use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools less than 5 minutes. to simulate release, dispersion and combustion of hydrogen and to compare with releases of other gases (e.g. natural gas) to understand and minimise the risks involved in hydrogen use. Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Hydrogen Sensors and Safety The Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Testing Facility is The Sensor Testing Facility assesses the performance of hydrogen sensors under a wide range of dedicated to the testing and performance environmental conditions. Hydrogen cannot be assessment of potential hydrogen storage detected by human senses making the use of suitable materials. The laboratory is equipped with detection devices (sensors) necessary. Since hydrogen instruments that can measure how much and how leaks can be hazardous if not detected quickly, reliable quickly materials can reversibly store hydrogen and detection systems need to be tested, and their performance validated so that they can be effectively under which conditions. Instrumentation covers a deployed wherever hydrogen is produced, stored, variety of testing conditions suitable for the distributed or used. investigation of most materials. The research is complemented by micro-structural analysis In collaboration with international and European capabilities. partners, the facility is used in inter-laboratory experimental programmes aimed at preparing In view of many disparities on hydrogen sorption guidelines for testing hydrogen sensors, assessing data still present in the literature, the laboratory their performance and reliability, and providing focuses on comparing measurements performed feedback on the results to sensor manufacturers and using different techniques. International inter- end users. laboratories comparisons have been organised to identify discrepancies and to suggest improvements in testing procedures to achieve reliable, reproducible and accurate data. The laboratory is also involved in European and international collaborative projects for testing hydrogen storage materials. It acts as a reference laboratory to interested research groups developing new materials which lack the appropriate analytical capabilities or need ‘second opinion’ measurements. Finally, the laboratory is a training ground for aspiring young scientists active in the challenging field of hydrogen storage. Contact P. Moretto European Commission • JRC • Institute for Energy and Transport Tel.: +31 (0)224 56 5269 Infosheet Email: [email protected] www.jrc.ec.europa.eu.