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With fossil fuels being phased out due to their finite nature, and impact upon the environment and global climate, economies are looking to more sustainable ways of meeting their energy demand in accordance with moves towards Net Zero carbon emissions.
In the near future, alongside electrification, hydrogen as a fuel will be an important part of our energy mix. This is because hydrogen:
As a fuel source, hydrogen is energy-dense and has a wide flammability range making it reliable and efficient.
When combusted, it does not produce many common pollutants associated with fossil fuel combustion which are harmful to human health and the environment such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide or hydrocarbons. However, combustion of hydrogen is not entirely emission-free. Combustion of hydrogen produces oxides of nitrogen (NOx) as a minor waste product.
Thermal NOx is formed by the reaction of atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) molecules in combustion flue gas at elevated temperatures.
NOx reacts in air to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - a globally regulated air pollutant, harmful to human and environmental health, that contributes to formation of photochemical ozone, fine particulates such as PM2.5, nitric acid (acid rain) and eutrophication. Given the potentially harmful nature of NOx emissions, in the UK they are subject to regulations such as the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations and Air Quality Standards Regulations.
With the electrification of combustion sources, the overall mass of NOx emissions to atmosphere and associated impacts is predicted to decline, however it is still important to ensure that any residual emissions of NOx are kept as low as reasonably practicable.
This will include using established methods to minimise emissions of NOx from combustion sources, such as:
With the predicted growth in use of hydrogen as a fuel, hydrogen-specific NOx emission standards and guidance on applicability of NOx reduction methods on an international, national, and industry-specific scale, are necessary. In the UK, the EA are in the process of drafting Emission Limit Values (ELVs) for hydrogen combustion plants, in order to manage NOx emissions as technologies develop on an industrial scale.
If you have any questions regarding combustion of hydrogen and its regulation, SLR will be happy to help. Some examples of where we can help include:
Please get in touch to discuss your project.
- Written by Greg Altria (Technical Director, Environmental Management, Permitting & Compliance) and Hannah Jacobs (Senior Consultant, Air Quality)
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