How to ensure hydrogen safety in public spaces - A look back at the 2024 IECEx Hydrogen Conference
09 August 2024
The 2024 Hydrogen Conference in Singapore brought together key experts in the hydrogen industry as well as many international organizations, including the IEC. Ensuring safety for the public was a key topic.
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The world is witnessing a global energy transition. Hydrogen is seen as a key contender in the diverse mix of potential energy alternatives, aiming to replace polluting fossil fuels and offering promise in our quest for cleaner energy.
Despite several challenges, hydrogen produced from water electrolysis, powered by renewable energy, has emerged as one of the top contenders as it offers a clean end-to-end pathway for generating the energy, despite high initial costs. There’s extensive research going into developing other safe and innovative low-carbon hydrogen systems for a wide array of applications ranging from various forms of transport such as trucks, aircraft and other vehicles right down to energy storage systems in hospitals.
There is a strong interest in hydrogen uptake, evidenced by the rapidly growing number of announced projects for low-emission hydrogen production. According to the International Energy Agency, annual production of low-emission hydrogen could reach 38 mega tonnes in 2030, if all announced projects are realized.
For these efforts to be effective and efficient though, international cooperation is essential. The IEC System for Certification to Standards Relating to Equipment for Use in Explosive Atmospheres, IECEx, and other organizations are coming together to advance collaborative efforts to establish safe international hydrogen markets and trade.
Bringing global organizations together
To advance these conversations around clean pathways and safe infrastructure, IECEx recently organized the 2024 International Hydrogen Conference in Singapore. The conference brought together key stakeholders, including leading experts from around the world, to share insights and expertise related to international standardization, equipment manufacturing, inspection, repair, and overhaul associated with hydrogen production, transportation, and utilization.
The event, hosted by Enterprise Singapore, was a collaborative effort involving IECEx, ISO, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Alliance for Industry Decarbonization (AFID) and the Hydrogen Council. It echoed the institutes’ strong collaboration in promoting work around a low carbon hydrogen infrastructure. IEC is also a knowledge partner in the AFID, many of whose representatives weighed in with their crucial insights at the conference.
The event elucidated how both standards and conformity assessment are crucial to the discussion. As an example, IECEx’s longstanding collaboration with IEC Technical Committee (TC) 31, which is at the forefront of shaping standards for equipment used in hazardous environments, is vital to effectively see the impact of the IEC work in diverse sectors.
IECEx has also established formal liaisons with ISO TC 197 relating to testing and certification in the area of hydrogen technologies, and more recently with IEC TC 105 for fuel cells. Both these partnerships are fostering a safe infrastructure for hydrogen use in the energy sector.
Several distinguished speakers joined in from these various organizations to speak about industry challenges, opportunities and the ongoing work for hydrogen safety. Experts from PTB, Zhejiang University's Hydrogen Energy Institute, Thuba Ltd. and UL Solutions further brought perspectives from industry and academia on topics such as installation requirements, developments in the Asian region and more.
Keeping the public safe
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But why is this conversation important? There is no doubt as to the potential for hydrogen to drive a pathway for sustainable energy, but going down this path also needs sizeable investment in safety for the public. It was the same with petrol, diesel and electric vehicles when those started out. Shifting to a low-carbon hydrogen economy will therefore require to include the relevant safety considerations in the infrastructure for the different application domains.
For instance, with more hydrogen refuelling stations, surrounding environments need to be safeguarded. The general public will also need to be more aware of hydrogen use and safety as the gas starts taking up more space in the public sphere. Similar considerations will follow with hydrogen use making its way into different aspects of our lives.
Dr. Andrei Tchouvelev from ISO, who’s also part of the Hydrogen Council, pointed out that we already have many frameworks in place. “With IEC and ISO, we have the tools, we have the systems, we have the experts to manage the hydrogen industry and make it safe”, he said.
Paul Meanwell, IECEx Chair, shared the same opinion. “Rather than reinventing the wheel, we need to address non-conformities in an industry where standards have existed for a long time. The reasons behind these gaps – whether due to competence, lack of regulation, or other factors – require investigation and resolution”, he said.
Katy Holdredge, IECEx Vice Chair further outlined IECEx plans in tackling the various issues of safety around hydrogen. She drew attention to schemes like safety certification of small devices, large assemblies, and service facilities and the personal competency scheme to ensure specific requirements for safety.
“There’s a lot of investment being made in the hydrogen industry and all of this investment is going to require the support of conformity assessment services to make sure that the hydrogen industry can be operated in a safe and reliable manner,” she emphasized.
Looking to a sustainable future
The work carried out by energy organizations like IRENA serves as a clear indicator of the rapidly growing interest in hydrogen – it beckons a very ambitious framework and substantially large investments in developing clean hydrogen technologies for use in industries.
Around 40 countries have incorporated a hydrogen strategy. Another example of the interest noted during discussions at the conference came from China. They have planned 417 fuelling stations, and 212 are already in operation. “We need to move fast to make sure we protect the public,” said Chris Agius, IECEx Executive Secretary.
“IECEx has been tackling safety around hydrogen for decades. Both IEC and ISO have refined their international standards portfolios to support safety and sustainability across the hydrogen value chain. On the conformity assessment end as well, we have services covering safety for hydrogen production, transportation and use, including hydrogen dispensing equipment”, he added, stressing the need for international collaboration in leveraging our existing expertise.
Making equipment safe is essential as hydrogen becomes more commonplace. As an international community, we will all benefit when regulators adopt standards as a legislative framework and incorporate those standards into their legislation.
Going forward, collaborations and conversations, such as the ones stemming from the IECEx International Hydrogen Conference, will continue to shape our pathways to a sustainable future.
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