Recommendations for inherently safer use of hydrogen vehicles in underground transportation systems

This task aims at the synthesis of practical outputs from research intensive WP2-4 on hydrogen dispersion, fires and explosions and its interaction with enclosed transportation systems. The recommendations include developed and validated hydrogen incident/accident prevention and possible mitigation strategies for road, rail and other hydrogen powered transport applications – for easy reference by stakeholders from tunnel and hydrogen transport sectors.

These recommendations will provide guidance on the evaluation of appropriateness and effectiveness of conventional and innovative safety measures in case of accidents with hydrogen-powered vehicles or hydrogen delivery transport in underground transportation systems and similar confined spaces, as well as the applicability range of recommended hazard and risk assessment tools and methodologies. This task aims to formulate requirements for use of hydrogen systems in tunnels / enclosed spaces to achieve an acceptable level of risk, life safety and property protection.

The recommendations cover tunnels for both road and rail transport and similar confined spaces like underground and multi-store parking, garages, maintenance shops, etc. A deeper knowledge of the relevant physics enables better hydrogen safety engineering tools for consistent performance-based assessment of hazards and risks of hydrogen use in confined spaces, and underpin the development of innovative prevention and mitigation strategies by stakeholders.

The table of contents of the recommendations (milestone M6.2) was delivered in M15 (April 2020) with greater clarity of scope, based on results of already performed research and forthcoming studies. The recommendations for safer use of hydrogen vehicles in enclosed transport systems will be ready in M34 (deliverable D6.9) to be presented at the project dissemination conference in M36.