Construction and research progress of hydrogen energy transportation pipeline

Hydrogen energy, as an important strategic alternative to fossil fuels, utilizes curtailed wind and solar power in western China for water electrolysis to produce hydrogen. This not only significantly enhances energy economics but also strongly drives the transition of China′s energy mix toward renewables, providing crucial support for green and low-carbon development. Pipeline transportation is the optimal solution for large-scale, long-distance hydrogen delivery. This paper systematically reviews the construction progress of major hydrogen pipeline projects both domestically and internationally, summarizes research findings on hydrogen-induced material failure mechanisms and their influencing factors, analyzes pipeline protection optimization strategies, and offers an outlook on the future development trends of hydrogen transportation pipelines. The study indicates that China′s long-distance hydrogen pipelines still lag behind international advanced levels in engineering design experience and large-scale application. The existing theoretical framework for hydrogen embrittlement remains incomplete, and there is an urgent need to develop universal hydrogen damage mechanism models. Current research is hampered by laboratory limitations and data inconsistencies, which constrain engineering practice. At the same time, hydrogen embrittlement prevention and control technologies must overcome challenges in material innovation and compatibility with operating conditions. Studies show that the acicular ferrite microstructure exhibits excellent resistance to hydrogen embrittlement and can serve as a preferred matrix microstructure for pipeline materials. Future efforts should establish multi-factor coupled evaluation systems for operating conditions, verify the engineering reliability of gaseous inhibitors and hydrogen barrier coatings, and further improve the efficiency of long-distance hydrogen transportation. These technological breakthroughs are of great practical significance for enhancing the energy efficiency of hydrogen pipelines and supporting the achievement of the "dual carbon" goals.