# What hydrogen leakage means for the climate

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2023-02-09
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate

## Summary

Thomas Koch Blank, senior principal at RMI, discusses new research on hydrogen leakage, explaining that while leaked hydrogen has a higher global warming potential than previously thought, it is still significantly lower than natural gas when normalized for energy content. He argues that the primary climate risk lies in the embodied emissions of hydrogen production (such as blue hydrogen or coal-powered electrolysis) rather than leakage itself. Blank emphasizes prioritizing high-impact industrial applications like steelmaking over lower-impact uses like home heating to maximize decarbonization benefits. The conversation covers the nuances of global warming potential metrics, leakage rates, and the importance of robust supply chain regulations to prevent fraud and ensure low-carbon production.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=2) Introduction: Catalyst and Hydrogen Leakage Overview
- [5:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=341) The Science of Hydrogen Leakage and Global Warming Potential
- [12:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=743) Comparing Hydrogen and Natural Gas: Energy Content and GWP
- [16:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=967) Study Assumptions: Adoption Rates and Leakage Scenarios
- [19:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=1191) Prioritizing Use Cases: Industrial vs. Residential Applications
- [22:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=1344) Leakage Rates, Safety, and Economic Drivers
- [28:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=1681) The Real Risk: Embodied Emissions and Blue Hydrogen
- [34:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=2080) Best Use Cases: Steelmaking, Shipping, and Infrastructure
- [39:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate#t=2351) Detection, Monitoring, and Future Regulation

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- RMI (company)
- IPCC (other)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- EnergyHub (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Turning Air, Water, and Sunlight into Natural Gas: Casey Handmer’s Vision for Sustainable Energy Part 1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-12-05-turning-air-water-and-sunlight-into-natural-gas-casey-handmers-vision-for-sustai) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2023-02-09-what-hydrogen-leakage-means-for-the-climate. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.