Exploring hydrogen pipeline costs by considering regional geographical and political characteristics

Abstract Transporting hydrogen using pipelines is becoming increasingly relevant in the energy system, yet current cost estimates typically rely on simplistic approaches that overlook region-specific characteristics, leading to potential miscalculation of costs. Here we examine hydrogen pipeline costs by incorporating regional geographical factors, such as land use, topography and existing infrastructure, together with political-economic factors represented through country-specific weighted average costs of capital. Using a geographic information system-based model, we demonstrate that the regional levelized cost of transportation can vary by up to a factor of three. Comparing our approach with conventional ones based on uniform detour factors in an existing European energy system analysis framework shows substantial deviations in trade flows and highlights the relevance of this work. We provide cost and route data for 4,900 potential global pipeline routes. Our findings yield insights for further research and stakeholders when assessing the economic viability of hydrogen as a competitive energy carrier.