# Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers: Impact on the biosphere

Invisible leaks, toxic ammonia and an indirect climate effect

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/biosphere/

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 2.8^[18](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00857-8) Hydrogen emission rate estimates, whole value chain 0.2 to 20%^[8](https://doaj.org/article/24bd7601539f44d2ae260fb4d5a649e9) Share of German core network reusing existing gas pipes About 60%^[9](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/20241022_H2.html?nn=666514)

#### Effects over time

| Life affected | Short term | Medium term | Long term |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Humans**^[3](https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_Global_Trade_Hydrogen_2022.pdf) | Construction disturbance along pipeline routes | Fire and explosion risk from leaks; ammonia is toxic if released near people | Little evidence of effect |
| **Animals**^[3](https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_Global_Trade_Hydrogen_2022.pdf) | Trenching disturbs habitats, as for gas pipelines | Ammonia spills at sea would harm marine life; few studies specific to hydrogen | Little evidence of effect |
| **Plants**^[3](https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_Global_Trade_Hydrogen_2022.pdf) | Clearing of the construction strip | Little evidence of effect | Little evidence of effect |
| **Fungi and soil life**^[3](https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_Global_Trade_Hydrogen_2022.pdf) | Soil disturbance in the trench | Little evidence of effect | Little evidence of effect |
| **Ecosystems**^[8](https://doaj.org/article/24bd7601539f44d2ae260fb4d5a649e9)^[9](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/20241022_H2.html?nn=666514)^[18](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00857-8) | 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

1. [Global hydrogen trade to meet the 1.5C climate goal: Part II, Technology review of hydrogen carriers](https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_Global_Trade_Hydrogen_2022.pdf) IRENA, 2022
2. [Wide range in estimates of hydrogen emissions from infrastructure (Esquivel-Elizondo et al., Frontiers in Energy Research 11)](https://doaj.org/article/24bd7601539f44d2ae260fb4d5a649e9) Frontiers, 2023
3. [Bundesnetzagentur approves hydrogen core network](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2024/20241022_H2.html?nn=666514) Bundesnetzagentur, 2024
4. [A multi-model assessment of the Global Warming Potential of hydrogen (Sand et al., Communications Earth and Environment 4)](https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00857-8) Nature Portfolio, 2023

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/correlation/index.md)
- [How it works](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/explain/index.md)
- [Efficiency and losses](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/efficiency/index.md)
- [Technology advances](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/advances/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/valuechain/index.md)
- [Geopolitics and regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/geopolitics/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/economics/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_h2_transport/links/index.md)