In the early 2000s, as interest in abundant and clean hydrogen energy surged, concerns regarding its safe storage, transportation, and usage arose. To address these concerns, the Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Office established the Hydrogen Safety Panel in 2003, marking two decades of prioritizing safety for hydrogen projects.
Led by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and comprising over two dozen experts with a combined experience exceeding 700 years, the panel has evolved into a trusted resource for best practices in hydrogen energy safety.
Initially tasked with evaluating hydrogen safety plans, the panel’s role expanded over the years to include project design reviews. Nick Barilo, Hydrogen Safety program manager at PNNL, emphasized the panel’s commitment to imparting safety guidance in a non-regulatory manner, viewing reviews as valuable teaching opportunities.
The panel’s services have grown to encompass pre-project training, consultations, incident fact-finding, and on-site evaluations. Interested parties can request the panel’s services through their website.
Over the years, the panel’s influence has extended beyond safety plan evaluations. In 2018, the California Energy Commission sought a review of its light-duty hydrogen fueling infrastructure, leading to a formal partnership with PNNL and the DOE. This collaboration has increased the panel’s visibility, aligning with the rising interest in hydrogen energy.
As the panel’s scope expanded, it began offering white papers, reports, guides, presentations, webinars, magazine articles, and training sessions for first responders. It also contributed to the Hydrogen Tools Portal, a valuable repository on hydrogen safety.
In a recent development, the Hydrogen Safety Panel’s partnership with the Center for Hydrogen Safety, a subsidiary of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, has broadened its reach. Users can now access training courses, webinars, working groups, and member meetings through this collaboration.
Nick Barilo anticipates the panel’s continued importance in the evolving hydrogen ecosystem. The panel is actively working on providing more public-facing information and supporting major initiatives, including regional hydrogen hubs, leveraging its accumulated expertise.
Looking ahead, Barilo envisions an increased need for discussions and proactive education on hydrogen and safety practices as hydrogen energy becomes more mainstream. The panel plans to expand its membership and initiate a mentoring program in the coming year to meet these evolving needs.