Shipping Hydrogen

Hydrogen could be shipped using large trucks, but it would probably be more efficient to use transport by ship. In order to transport hydrogen, it must be compressed or cooled to a liquid form. Otherwise, it will simply be too bulky to move. Moreover, it must be shipped in canisters that will protect the hydrogen in the event of a major collision or accident.

Since most current methods for storing hydrogen involve high-pressure canisters, large-scale shipping economizes the transport of hydrogen. For example, a smaller canister that can store only 85g of hydrogen gas at 250psig, providing about 0.6% of the energy stored in an average gas tank, still weighs about 7kg.

Currently regulations do not allow shipping of compressed hydrogen in tanker trucks due to safety concerns. While some smaller containers are certified for highway travel, significant improvements in tank strength and reliability will be necessary before vehicle shopping of hydrogen will be possible. The same challenges are faced by designers of hydrogen cars.

Currently there is significantly more promise in hydrogen shipping via pipelines.

Sources: http://www.txohydrogen.com/products/portable.htm