Is reducing energy losses critical for the success of hydrogen in the gas grid?

[Dragrath]

Has anyone accounted for the losses of hydrogen? I ask as independent research has reported natural gas lines already leak more than officially reported
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190606183254.htm
which already at least in the US was much higher than was officially reported
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...larger-than-epa-estimates-study-idUSKBN1JH2TP
Given that escape is even easier for Hydrogen I'm skeptical this would really do much.

 

[member 656954]

There have been studies of this. NREL released an extensive review of blended H2 and NG in 2013, and noted:

"Extending this calculation to the larger pipeline network suggests that use of a 20% hydrogen blend within the approximately 415,000 miles of PE pipes in the United States would result in a gas loss of about 43 million ft3/yr, with about 60% of the losses being hydrogen and 40% being natural gas (Appendix A)."​

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And a recent IRENA report noted:

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"Currently, significant energy losses occur in hydrogen production, transport and conversion. Reducing these losses is critical for the reduction of the hydrogen supply cost."​