Powering long haul freight: hydrogen refueling station siting using pipeline infrastructure

Hydrogen fuel cell trucks (HFCTs) are a promising alternative to diesel trucks (DTs) for decarbonizing long-haul freight while retaining comparable operational performance. This study investigates a large scale HRS siting problem with the aim of minimizing the capital investment in HRS construction and hydrogen delivery cost. A hybrid delivery method is considered: hydrogen is delivered from production hubs by the existing natural gas pipeline network to storage reservoirs, then by truck to HRSs. Assuming 10% of the 2050 Freight Analysis Framework Version 5 (FAF5) truck flow as HFCTs on the U.S. continental interstate highway network, results show that pipeline-based delivery offers major economic advantages over truck-based delivery. Findings highlight the strategic value of leveraging existing pipeline infrastructure and suggest that targeted policy support for hydrogen delivery and refueling infrastructure is essential for facilitating the cost-effective adoption of HFCTs in long-haul freight.