Researchers raised safety concerns regarding hydrogen at an international meeting

At the international H4D meeting in The Hague, organized by the World Bank and ESMAP, Rhoda Afriyie Mensah from Luleå University of Technology participated in a panel discussion on the integration of green hydrogen and renewable energy. Her main message was that the use of battery storage in hydrogen production systems increases the overall risk profile, which places higher demands on safety, system design, and project feasibility.

The meeting brought together representatives from 15 organizations to discuss the challenges and opportunities for hydrogen development. Among the issues raised were competition for fossil-free electricity between data centers and hydrogen production, access to water for electrolysis, and complex permitting processes.

“Collaboration, knowledge exchange, and systems thinking are crucial to making hydrogen not only technically feasible but also practical, safe, and sustainable,” says Rhoda Afriyie Mensah, assistant professor of fire engineering at Luleå University of Technology.