New study to measure real-world hydrogen emissions

New Initiative Launched to Measure Real-World Hydrogen Emissions
A new global research project has kicked off to assess hydrogen emissions from operational infrastructure in North America and Europe. Industry leaders Air Products, Air Liquide, Shell, and TotalEnergies, in collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund, academic experts from Utrecht University, the University of Rhode Island, West Virginia University, and Cornell University, as well as research and technology firms Aerodyne Research, TNO, and Transport Energy Strategies, have joined forces to aid producers, regulators, investors, and others in comprehending potential emission sources and how to tackle them.
The study aims to quantify hydrogen emission levels from facilities across the hydrogen value chain, encompassing steam methane reformers, pipelines and compressors, liquefaction plants, oil refineries, fueling stations, hydrogen-fueled vehicles, and other hydrogen infrastructure. Researchers are using hydrogen analyzers and mobile sensing platforms to identify and characterize hydrogen emissions at site and component levels.
Thomas Röckmann, a Professor at Utrecht University, mentioned, “Our goal is to provide solid, scientific evidence on an environmental issue that is not yet fully explored by combining data collected directly from operating facilities with insights shared by operators.”
While hydrogen has gained considerable traction in recent years due to its potential applications in the energy transition and decarbonization, it also poses emission challenges that must be understood and managed. The partners highlighted the importance of accurate emissions data in shaping effective policies and practices to prevent leaks and other emissions from hydrogen systems.
Steven Hamburg from the Environmental Defense Fund emphasized the significance of this collaborative effort between academia and industry to directly measure hydrogen emissions from various operational facilities. Shell’s Hydrogen President, Andy Beard, underscored the importance of understanding emissions from hydrogen facilities to ensure efficient operations and support the energy transition.
The study, funded entirely by philanthropic donations to the Environmental Defense Fund, commenced field measurements in March 2025 and is slated to continue through early 2026. The partners intend to aggregate, anonymize, publish the data in peer-reviewed journals, and make it publicly accessible.