Paper Published:
An Effective Regulatory Regime For Transportation of Hydrogen©

11/09/04

By Gunnar Birgisson, Esq. and William Lavarco, Esq.
Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
Washington, D.C. Office

Published in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Vol. 29 (2004) 771-780

Click here to download and read the paper (pdf file)

The above linked paper proposes a federal regulatory model that can be used in the future to encourage the construction and development of large-scale hydrogen pipelines. The authors discuss a scenario whereby gaseous hydrogen is made in large quantities distant from markets (e.g, wind energy or nuclear); resulting in pipelines being the most effective form of transportation to access markets.

The authors, who are both practicing energy attorneys, provide a concise analysis of the historical and technical aspects that gave rise to the current regulatory regimes for interstate natural gas and petroleum pipelines and discuss the rudimentary economic regulation that presently governs interstate hydrogen pipelines. The authors conclude that the present regulation of hydrogen pipelines will be inadequate if a hydrogen pipeline grid is developed and recommend a stronger regulatory model based in part on a comparative analysis to the current natural gas and petroleum regulatory models that will promote and spur large-scale hydrogen pipeline development.