New climate chemistry model finds “non-negligible” impacts of potential hydrogen fuel leakage

MIT researchers developed a model to assess the climate impact of hydrogen leakage, finding it less impactful than previous studies but still significant. Their 66-equation model shows that leaked hydrogen affects atmospheric methane levels, emphasizing the need for leak prevention in hydrogen infrastructure. The study suggests hydrogen’s climate impact is about a third of natural gas, advocating for minimal leakage to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.