MIT researchers have developed the Hydrogen Carrier Analysis Tool (HyCAT) to help decision makers compare the cost and carbon emissions of different hydrogen shipping methods. The tool evaluates options like liquefied hydrogen, ammonia, synthetic methane, and toluene-based carriers across the full supply chain from export to delivery. Results vary by location, so HyCAT lets users input local assumptions to find the best fit for their site. The study, published in the journal Fuel, focuses on the transport and storage steps only, not production or end use. It calculates costs and greenhouse gas emissions at five stages: conversion to liquid form, storage, shipping, import storage, and re-gasification. The tool is open source and designed to be updated as the industry scales. This matters because hydrogen transport is often overlooked, yet it can consume a third of the energy content just to liquefy the gas. Without a cheap and clean way to move it, hydrogen cannot replace fossil fuels in hard to decarbonize sectors like steel and cement.
