Developing and Validating Airborne Methods for Industrial Hydrogen Emissions Quantification

The transition to a hydrogen economy is considered to represent an important contribution to climate change mitigation, yet models of the climate impact of a future hydrogen economy rely on appropriate hydrogen emissions scenarios. Reliable empirical data on hydrogen emissions is therefore critical for refining climate models. The HEQ (Hydrogen Emissions Quantification) project, a collaboration between Equinor and adMS, previously reported its first site-level emissions quantification from a grey hydrogen production facility using a novel analytical framework based on mass spectrometry and tracer-ratio methods. This initial study highlighted the need for airborne data acquisition capabilities and enhanced understanding of flaring and venting systems. 

In 2025, the HEQ project carried out a comprehensive data collection campaign at an Equinor-operated refinery, representing the world’s first online airborne effort to quantify hydrogen emissions from an industrial facility. This groundbreaking effort employed a multi-faceted approach combining helicopter-based, drone-assisted, and land-based techniques. The campaign had three primary objectives: validating and qualifying airborne measurement methods for hydrogen, quantifying fugitive emissions from reformers and hydrogen-rich circuits and directly measuring the combustion efficiency of the flaring system. 

This presentation will share valuable insights and results from the campaign, highlighting the effectiveness of diverse data acquisition methods and their implications for emissions measurements and monitoring in real-world industrial environments. By improving our understanding of hydrogen emissions, we aim to provide the empirical data necessary to support future regulatory requirements and enhance climate models for a sustainable hydrogen economy.