Safety aspects of future infrastructure scenarios with hydrogen refuelling stations

Hydrogen is currently gaining much attention as a possible future substitute for oil in the transport sector. Hydrogen is not a primary energy source, but can be produced from other sources of energy. A future hydrogen economy will need the establishment of new infrastructures for producing, storing, distributing, dispensing and using hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced in large-scale centralized facilities or in small-scale on-site systems. Large-scale production requires distribution in pipelines or trucks. A major challenge is to plan the new infrastructures to approach an even safer society regarding safe use of hydrogen. The paper will, on the basis of some scenarios for hydrogen deployment, highlight and discuss safety aspects related to future hydrogen economy infrastructures. (C) 2007 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.