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Hubs comprehensively monitor and have a mitigation plan for climate pollutant emissions across the Hub value chain.

WHAT IT MEANS IN PRACTICE

Hub developers demonstrate knowledge of the implications of climate pollutant (e.g., CO2, CH4, H2) emission risks across the value chain they are part of and incorporate appropriate strategies to minimize, monitor, and mitigate emissions (leakage or venting) of any climate impacting pollutant through feasibility analysis, development plans, and outreach materials.

Infrastructure (esp. relating to hydrogen, natural gas, carbon management (see Carbon Management Objective)) includes robust leak prevention design; measurement, reporting, and verification; and mitigation plans for leakage of all climate pollutants, direct and indirect.

*While companies should pursue common sense practices for H2 containment learned from experiences with methane and other pollutants, EDF notes that monitoring equipment is not yet commercially available to measure hydrogen concentrations at the parts-per-billion level necessary to accurately measure emissions from large portions of the value chain and assess climate impacts – current tools to detect leakage for safety monitoring alone are not precise enough for this objective. EDF expects advancement in this area in the short-term.

Targeted outcomes

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Emissions are limited such that, where applicable based on the Hub type:

<1%

HYDROGEN EMISSIONS GOAL

Hubs are prepared to meet a <1% hydrogen emissions goal for the value chain including production, storage, transport, and end use.

R&D

DETECTING HYDROGEN EMISSIONS

Hubs support and participate in research and development of sensor equipment capable of detecting hydrogen emissions with sufficient precision to be confident they are minimal.

GHG

MITIGATE HYDROGEN EMISSIONS

Hydrogen end-uses have defined plans to mitigate hydrogen emissions and control related pollutants (e.g., NOx).

0.20%

OR LESS TOTAL UPSTREAM METHANE EMISSIONS

Total methane emissions from upstream natural gas production are well below 0.2% (see OGCI and OGMP) with decreasing rate over time as technology improves.

CO2

CAPTURED AND MINIMIZED SAFELY

Carbon dioxide emissions are captured and minimized and safely managed through permanent storage (see Carbon Management Objective).

Resources & References

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9 recommendations for getting US hydrogen hubs right from the start

STUDY: Emissions of Hydrogen Could Undermine Its Climate Benefits; Warming Effects Are Two to Six Times Higher Than Previously Thought

Climate consequences of hydrogen emissions

Assessment of methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas supply chain

What policy options are available to address methane emissions from the oil and gas sector?

Methane: A crucial opportunity for climate fight

EDF Blog: What DOE should consider as it makes decisions on Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Projects