Real-time monitoring using digital platforms for enhanced safety in hydrogen facilities – Current perspectives and future directions

Hydrogen, as a versatile and clean energy carrier, holds immense potential for addressing climate change and transitioning towards sustainable energy systems. However, ensuring safety throughout the hydrogen lifecycle remains paramount to widespread adoption. In this context, digital tools have emerged as game-changers, offering innovative solutions to enhance safety practices and mitigate risks associated with hydrogen technologies. This paper provides comprehensive information on the impacts of digital tools on hydrogen safety assessment. Consequently, digital tools have offered a valuable means of monitoring and reporting Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) concerns and compliance within hydrogen applications in the operational facility. Through these tools, the presence of hydrogen leaks, fire, and explosion can all be effectively tracked and managed. Also, tools such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and machine learning algorithms, virtual reality (VR) environments, and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for assessing release scenarios, enhanced understanding of hydrogen behaviour in different environments, and real-time monitoring of operational parameters to mitigate potential risks. The tools enable the establishment of predictive maintenance strategies within hydrogen facilities. The outcomes of this study shed light on the significance of digital tools in bolstering hydrogen safety measures and enhancing safety protocols, redefining operational efficiency, and proactively identifying and mitigating potential hazards, thereby facilitating the safety and promoting the development of hydrogen infrastructure and their sustainable deployment of hydrogen as a key enabler of the future energy transition.