The use of low carbon hydrogen and related technologies is an indispensable requirement to achieve carbon neutrality within the EU by 2050. Countries like Germany will have to import large quantities of green hydrogen from regions with abundant solar and wind energy resources as their own renewable potential does not meet their energy demand. In this context, the various options for transporting hydrogen and the associated costs are of great interest for economically sustainable decarbonization. Hydrogen pipelines are considered the most cost efficient option for distances up to several thousand kilometers.

As part of an internal research project, ILF Consulting Engineers have studied intensively the optimization of new and refurbished onshore hydrogen pipelines. This article describes ILF’s approach using its own optimization tool, and the main results of the research work, which includes valuable findings and recommendations for future hydrogen transport-systems.

Optimization of hydrogen pipeline systems shows that transport cost minimizing design and operating conditions differ significantly from traditional natural gas pipelines due to different physical properties. Hydrogen requires significantly more compression energy in comparison with natural gas referred to the same energy content being transported. Thus, CAPEX and OPEX of compressor stations impact the levelized costs of transport of hydrogen to a greater extent than in the case of natural gas. Therefore, hydrogen pipelines with larger diameters and lower operating pressures lead to lower specific transportation costs as they minimize need for highly energy-intensive hydrogen compression. The low OPEX and CAPEX of the compressor stations thanks to reduced compression need compensates higher CAPEX of a hydrogen pipeline with larger diameter compared to configurations with smaller diameter but higher operating pressure. Comparison with natural gas pipelines shows that hydrogen transport is more expensive. This presentation outlines the interactions of the technical and economic parameters that are relevant for pipeline optimization.