A team from the MIT Energy Initiative has released an open-source tool called HyCAT that helps users compare the cost and carbon emissions of different methods for shipping hydrogen. Hydrogen is expected to help decarbonize industry and energy, but transporting it is difficult because it is lightweight and has low energy density by volume. The tool evaluates options such as liquid hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic methane, and a toluene-based carrier, showing that the best choice depends on local conditions like distance, infrastructure, and the carbon intensity of production. The tool focuses on the supply chain from the point of production to the point of delivery. It does not include upstream production or end use. Users can input their own assumptions and see results for each step: conversion, storage, shipping, and recovery. The researchers found that liquefying hydrogen directly consumes about one third of its energy content, while chemical carriers like ammonia add complexity but may offer lower overall emissions depending on the source of the carrier material. For anyone evaluating hydrogen logistics for a project or policy, this tool provides a way to test scenarios rather than relying on generic numbers. It is designed to be updated as the industry scales and more real-world data becomes available.
