A groundbreaking study conducted by the Norwegian climate center CICERO has revealed that leaked hydrogen has an almost 12 times stronger global warming effect compared to carbon dioxide (CO2).

Published in the open-access journal Nature Communications Earth & Environment, the study sheds light on the climate impact of hydrogen emissions.

Unlike the combustion of coal and gas, which releases CO2, burning hydrogen results in the emission of only water vapor and oxygen. However, it is the leakage of hydrogen throughout its production, transportation, and usage that contributes to global warming.

Although hydrogen itself is not a greenhouse gas, its chemical reactions in the atmosphere have implications for other greenhouse gases such as methane, ozone, and stratospheric water vapor. As a result, hydrogen emissions can contribute to global warming, despite lacking direct radiative properties.

The research, spearheaded by Dr. Maria Sand, a senior scientist at CICERO, involved collaboration with experts from the UK, France, and the US. The study received funding from the Research Council of Norway, with contributions from five hydrogen industry partners.

The climate impact of hydrogen has been a relatively understudied topic, but this research builds a stronger understanding of its global warming potential (GWP100), estimated at 11.6. By utilizing five different atmospheric chemistry models, the researchers investigated the changes in atmospheric methane, ozone, and stratospheric water vapor caused by hydrogen interactions. Factors such as soil uptake, photochemical production of hydrogen, hydrogen and methane lifetimes, and the interactions between the two were considered in the estimates.

Dr. Sand highlights that this study represents the most comprehensive assessment of the climate effects of hydrogen conducted to date. The findings emphasize the need to address hydrogen leakage in order to mitigate its impact on global warming.