Hydrogen infrastructure

A hydrogen infrastructure is the infrastructure of points of hydrogen production, truck and pipeline transport, and hydrogen stations for the distribution and sale of hydrogen fuel, and thus a crucial prerequisite before a successful commercialization of fuel cell technology.

Hydrogen stations which are not situated near a hydrogen pipeline get supply via compressed hydrogen tube trailers, liquid hydrogen trailers, liquid hydrogen tank trucks or dedicated onsite production. Pipelines are the cheapest way to move hydrogen over long distances but must be designed to withstand the leakage and steel embrittlement caused by the hydrogen molecule. Hydrogen gas piping is routine in large oil-refineries, because hydrogen is used to hydrocrack fuels from crude oil. The IEA recommends existing industrial ports be used for production and natural gas pipelines for transport, international co-operation and shipping.

South Korea and Japan, which as of 2019 lacked international electrical interconnectors, were investing in the hydrogen economy. In March 2020, the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field was opened in Japan, claiming to be the world's largest hydrogen production facility. Much of the site is occupied by a solar array; power from the grid is also used for electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen fuel.

A hydrogen highway is a chain of hydrogen-equipped filling stations and other infrastructure along a road or highway which allow hydrogen vehicles to travel.

Hydrogen stations that are not situated near a hydrogen pipeline get deliveries of hydrogen tanks via compressed hydrogen tube trailers, liquid hydrogen trailers, liquid hydrogen tank trucks or dedicated onsite production. Governments have supported some initiatives to expand hydrogen fuel infrastructure in the US state of California, in some member states of the European Union, Japan and elsewhere.

Hydrogen pipeline transport may be used to connect the point of hydrogen production or delivery of hydrogen with the point of demand. According to a 2024 research report, the United States had 1,600 miles (2,570 kilometers) of hydrogen pipelines, and the global total stood at 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers). The World Economic Forum, in December 2023, however, estimated that Europe had approximately 1,600 kilometers of hydrogen pipelines.

Hydrogen embrittlement (a reduction in the ductility of a metal due to absorbed hydrogen) occurs primarily with 'diffusible' hydrogen, i.e. atoms or ions. Hydrogen gas, however, is molecular (H₂), and there is a significant energy barrier to splitting it into atoms.

98% of hydrogen production uses the steam reforming method. Methods such as electrolysis of water are also used. The world's largest facility for producing electrolytic hydrogen fuel is claimed to be the Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R), a 10MW-class hydrogen production unit, inaugurated on 7 March 2020, in Namie, Fukushima Prefecture. The site occupies 180,000 square meters of land, much of which is occupied by a solar array; but power from the grid is also used to conduct electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen fuel.