In collaboration with DBI Gut, DNV and Trinomics, LBST has conducted a study for the European Commission (Directorate General for Energy, DG ENER) to support future standardisation of hydrogen quality in the European hydrogen network.

The study provides a technical analysis to support further standardisation activities on gas quality for Europe’s future H2 infrastructure.

It summarizes the most important literature on the influence of the various elements of the H2 value chain on the composition of H2 gas and assesses the impact of different purity levels for end consumers. The study discusses already existing H2 quality standards and analyses various stakeholder positions. From this, three exemplary specifications for H2 quality (98 mol%, 99.5 mol% and 99.97 mol%) and various limit values for the most important impurities are derived. Finally, the respective costs of the purification effort are evaluated for the cases that these specifications will be then actually applied as network.

The results serve to support the upcoming discussions between key stakeholders on the definition of a common network specification, but also to clarify the underlying question of who should bear the responsibility (and costs) for ensuring this gas quality.

A publication of the results is planned for 2025.