Economic impact of applying high strength steels in hydrogen gas pipelines

Steel pipelines will likely be employed extensively to transport gaseous hydrogen in support of a future clean energy economy. To date, a hydrogen-specific cost analysis of pipeline installation has not been produced. This paper performs several cost analyses in order to quantify cost differentials associated with hydrogen pipeline installation relative to (a) natural gas pipeline installation, (b) use of different pipe diameters and operating pressures, (c) use of X70 pipeline steel, and (d) use of X70 pipeline steel given a potential change in governing design code. The analysis concluded that there is a sizeable cost increase between natural gas and hydrogen pipeline installation (as much as 68%, depending upon conditions). Furthermore, the analysis concludes that considerable cost savings can be realized if the hydrogen pipeline design/engineering code were modified to allow the use of X70 steel without penalty. Cost saving on the order of 32% may be realized, relative to use of X52 designed to the current code.