As pressure mounts to meet climate goals and ensure energy independence, accelerating the energy transition has become imperative. Among the most promising solutions is hydrogen (H₂): a low-carbon, flexible energy carrier that can help decarbonize heavy industry, produce sustainable aviation fuels, and deliver clean heat to homes. But as hydrogen’s role expands, so does the need for public understanding and trust. How safe is hydrogen, really?
By: Joshua Dauda and Danah Kolstee
High-profile incidents—such as the Hindenburg disaster of 1937 or recent explosions in South Korea—often shape public perceptions of hydrogen safety. These events highlight the need for robust safety standards,advanced technologies, and widespread public awareness. But the key question remains: is hydrogen truly
more dangerous, or simply misunderstood? Hydrogen isn’t new—nor are the concerns about its safety. While serious, such incidents don’t tell the whole story. In reality, hydrogen has been safely used in industry for decades. The difference lies in understanding its properties and applying technologies and procedures designed to manage them.
To understand the safety considerations more clearly, it’s essential to examine the physical and chemical properties that make hydrogen unique. Hydrogen is non-toxic, burns cleanly, and disperses quickly in open air—advantages that support its use as a clean fuel. However, it also ignites more rapidly than natural gas and burns with an almost invisible flame, demanding specialized fire detection systems. Over time, it can weaken certain metals, meaning existing pipelines and components may require reinforcement or replacement. Hydrogen is not inherently more dangerous than other fuels—it is simply different. Those differences must
be respected through rigorous engineering, proper handling, and education at every level.
Common myths about hydrogen safety
Hydrogen’s properties are often misunderstood. It is essential to distinguish between genuine safety challenges and persistent myths.
- Hydrogen is more dangerous than natural gas
False. Hydrogen requires specific handling protocols, but when managed correctly, its risk profile is comparable to that of natural gas. - Hydrogen is toxic
False. Hydrogen is non-toxic and dissipates quickly in open air. - Hydrogen burns dirty like fossil fuels
False. When burned, hydrogen produces only water vapor—resulting in zero carbon dioxide emissions. - Hydrogen is avoided in Europe due to safety risks
False. Hydrogen is actively produced and used across the EU, with projects underway in Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain - Hydrogen cannot be transported through existing gas pipelines
False. Many existing pipelines can be retrofitted or reinforced to safely carry hydrogen.However, real challenges remain. Hydrogen burns up to eight times faster than natural gas, has a nearly invisible flame that complicates detection, and can cause material embrittlement over time. Infrastructure must be adapted accordingly—especially valves, joints, and storage components.
Safety in practice
Across the Netherlands, hydrogen projects are already demonstrating how safety can be fully integrated into operations. In Alkmaar, for example, the NXT hydrogen refueling station is serving heavy-duty vehicles while also functioning as a training site for hydrogen safety procedures, emergency response, and technical
testing. Meanwhile, the HEAVENN project (Hydrogen Energy Applications in Valley Environments for Northern Netherlands), coordinated by New Energy Coalition, is building a comprehensive hydrogen value chain that includes residential heating, public transport, and decentralized production, all designed with public safety as a central pillar. In every project, New Energy Coalition collaborates with municipalities, emergency services, and infrastructure operators to ensure transparency and community preparedness.
Why focus on ports?
Hydrogen has been used in large volumes heavy industry for many decades, where safety is managed by a full Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA), specific to that industrial site. However, for scaling hydrogen infrastructure to many (smaller) sites, it is simply too time-consuming and too expensive to do a full QRA for every occasion, and that is why we need to develop standard operating procedures for “generic” hydrogen safety. For Electricity and natural gas, the BEI (Bedrijvsvoering van Elektrische Installaties) and VIAG (Veiligheidsinstructies aardgas) are in place, which also dictate the safe working instructions (VWI’s) for personnel working on the respective generic infrastructure. We don’t have such instructions yet for hydrogen! Ports are the ideal development ground for such safety procedures, as large-scale, industrial activities (QRAbased) meet small-scale distribution and use of hydrogen in a well-regulated and controlled area.
A leading example is the North Sea Hydrogen Valley Ports (NSH2V) project—an ambitious initiative co-led by New Energy Coalition, Development Agency North-Holland North (ONHN), and a consortium of major European ports. Funded by the Interreg North Sea Programme, NSH2V aims to accelerate the development of safe and scalable hydrogen supply chains through North Sea port infrastructure. The project started in 2024 and will deliver a Masterplan for H2 in four European ports by 2026. Beyond technology, NSH2V promotes international knowledge exchange, harmonizing safety frameworks and enabl ike ONHN, the project ensures that hydrogen integration is embedded in local spatial planning, workforce training, and port redevelopment strategies. By aligning technical innovation with governance and public awareness, NSH2V Ports is setting the standard for safe hydrogen deployment in one of the most complex and strategic environments of the energy transition: the port.
- Joshua Dauda and Danah Kolstee are employed bij New Energy Coalition and working for North Sea Hydrogen Valley Port (NSH2V), respectively as project lead and communications coördinator.
Safety of hydrogen in maritime environments is one of the topics that will be discussed at the Offshore Experience. This event, scheduled for September 9th, focuses on “Blue leadership” and will be held in De Kampanje in Den Helder. For information and registration, visit the website: Offshore Experience 2025.
