Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers: Impact on the biosphere
Invisible leaks, toxic ammonia and an indirect climate effect
What this tab covers Effects on human, animal, plant, fungal and microbial life and on whole ecosystems: in the short term (construction and early years), medium term (operating life) and long term (decommissioning and legacy).Hydrogen itself is non-toxic but leaks warm the climate indirectly; ammonia carriers bring toxicity risks; pipelines disturb land during building.
Global warming potential of hydrogen (100 years) 11.6 plus or minus 2.818 Hydrogen emission rate estimates, whole value chain 0.2 to 20%8 Share of German core network reusing existing gas pipes About 60%9Effects over time
| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humans3 | Construction disturbance along pipeline routes | Fire and explosion risk from leaks; ammonia is toxic if released near people | Little evidence of effect |
| Animals3 | Trenching disturbs habitats, as for gas pipelines | Ammonia spills at sea would harm marine life; few studies specific to hydrogen | Little evidence of effect |
| Plants3 | Clearing of the construction strip | Little evidence of effect | Little evidence of effect |
| Fungi and soil life3 | Soil disturbance in the trench | Little evidence of effect | Little evidence of effect |
| Ecosystems8918 | Reduced where pipes are repurposed rather than built | Leaked hydrogen extends methane lifetime, warming about 11.6 times CO2 per kg over 100 years | Climate effect depends on leak rates, still poorly measured |
How the effects are reduced
Repurposing existing pipes avoids new trenching. Leak detection, capturing boil-off as ship fuel rather than venting, and better field measurement of hydrogen emissions are the main climate measures. For ammonia, double-walled tanks, emergency planning at ports and avoiding cracking where ammonia can be used directly reduce both risk and energy loss.
Sources
- Global hydrogen trade to meet the 1.5C climate goal: Part II, Technology review of hydrogen carriers IRENA, 2022
- Wide range in estimates of hydrogen emissions from infrastructure (Esquivel-Elizondo et al., Frontiers in Energy Research 11) Frontiers, 2023
- Bundesnetzagentur approves hydrogen core network Bundesnetzagentur, 2024
- A multi-model assessment of the Global Warming Potential of hydrogen (Sand et al., Communications Earth and Environment 4) Nature Portfolio, 2023