Demand for hydrogen detection is rising. Hydrogen is one of the most talked-about gases in today’s energy transition, its applications, its sustainability credentials, green, grey, and everything in between. One point that shouldn’t get lost in that conversation, and one we’d like to draw more attention to, is the hazard hydrogen itself presents. Hydrogen is a dangerous gas. It’s sometimes referred to as “knalgas” (explosive gas) in Dutch, and that name wasn’t chosen by accident.
In this article, 7Solutions gives you a complete overview: from hydrogen’s role in the energy transition, through its effect on your gas detection sensors, to the practical applications where hydrogen detection is indispensable. That’s ultimately what this comes down to: safe installations, reliable readings, and a safe network.
Hydrogen in the energy transition
Hydrogen plays a key role in the success of the energy transition in the Netherlands, preferably green hydrogen. It’s a current topic with many facets. Hydrogen is seen as an important building block for eventually phasing out fossil fuels. For now, a large share of H2 is still produced from natural gas, which means it isn’t yet sustainable in itself. There’s also no nationwide distribution network for 100% hydrogen yet, but blending H2 with natural gas is becoming more common, aimed at reducing CO2 emissions from combustion equipment.
Installations that convert electricity, preferably generated by wind turbines or solar panels, into hydrogen are now being tested in multiple locations. This makes it easier to store and transport energy, and lets that H2 be used at times when solar and wind power are limited. In the coming years, these developments will be refined further, so they can be deployed at larger scale and with better returns in practice.
Applications for hydrogen
Several applications are already emerging, particularly in transport. More and more H2-based solutions are being developed, buses and trucks with fuel cells running on hydrogen, for instance. Passenger car manufacturers are also working on H2-powered models. Work is underway to apply hydrogen in shipping too, from inland barges to seagoing vessels, as part of decarbonizing transport. The number of public hydrogen filling stations is also growing: by mid-2026, the Netherlands has just over twenty such stations, with more under construction or in preparation. Growth is steady, though the refuelling network remains far smaller than that for natural gas or diesel.
Heating with hydrogen
Heating homes has become a hot topic given rising energy prices. There are already, on a limited scale, heating appliances that run on H2, but these still need further refinement before large-scale application is possible.
In the shorter term, the goal is for the existing infrastructure currently used for natural gas to also be usable for hydrogen. Several construction projects are currently underway involving green hydrogen production installations, sited where green hydrogen can be produced at larger scale. There are also various neighbourhood-level initiatives already connecting homes to hydrogen. The Netherlands is a frontrunner here, though large-scale hydrogen supply to residential areas is still some way off.
7Solutions works with various suppliers and users to fulfil detection and measurement equipment needs as required. This calls for specialist knowledge of sensors and the wide range of applications where hydrogen detection plays a role.
How hydrogen affects your gas detection sensors
As a service provider in the energy market, you may have made a well-considered choice for gas detection technology years ago. But given the changing energy market, is that choice still the right one going forward? Years ago, the energy sector settled on either a catalytic LEL sensor or an infrared LEL sensor. But the LEL sensor isn’t the only one to consider. Do other sensors react to hydrogen, or not? For a long time this wasn’t a particularly relevant question, simply because hydrogen wasn’t either. Given recent developments in the energy sector, we looked into it.
CO sensor
It’s well known within the industry that the CO (carbon monoxide) sensor is cross-sensitive to hydrogen.
Oxygen (O2) sensor
Less well known is that hydrogen also affects the O2 (oxygen) sensor. As with the LEL sensor, this depends on the technology used in the gas detector.
A so-called liquid oxygen sensor reacts particularly strongly to the presence of hydrogen, and can even trigger an alarm. At a value of 1 vol.% H2, the sensor responds with a drop of 2 to 3 vol.% oxygen on the display. In other words, the oxygen reading falls by 2 to 3 vol.% O2, without there being an immediate real hazard. Because the alarm is triggered frequently as a result, confidence in the detector can decline, with the risk that employees respond less adequately to genuine hazards.
The liquid oxygen sensor is often sold as a “long life” sensor. Whether the presence of hydrogen affects the cell’s lifespan isn’t currently known, though such a strong reaction is unlikely to be without long-term consequences. We’re still investigating this.
There’s also the electrochemical oxygen sensor, with an average lifespan of two years. These sensors don’t react to the presence of hydrogen. You’ll find this sensor type, for example, in the WatchGas SST Range and the Industrial Scientific Ventis Pro5. The Ventis Pro5 can additionally be fitted with a hydrogen-compensated CO sensor, further removing potential issues when detecting hydrogen.
What this means for you
Working with hydrogen brings new challenges not just for the energy market and installers, but for every sector that comes into contact with it. A gas detector with an infrared (IR) LEL sensor, for example, won’t respond to hydrogen, while a device with a liquid oxygen sensor may be overly sensitive to it. Knowing which sensor technology is built into your current equipment, and what that means for the reliability of your readings, is therefore essential.
Practical applications of hydrogen detection
All of the applications and measurements below are essential for the safe transport of hydrogen and hydrogen blends.
Building new networks. When a new network is constructed, at some point it needs to be commissioned with hydrogen in the pipeline (up to 100 vol.%) or, in some cases, a blend of hydrogen with natural gas, biogas or LNG. During testing and commissioning, the network is purged with nitrogen to ensure no oxygen remains in the pipeline. Hydrogen is then introduced, and hydrogen detection equipment confirms that the correct concentration has been reached (100 vol.% H2).
Converting networks (natural gas or biogas to hydrogen). When an existing network is converted from natural gas to hydrogen, the same commissioning moment applies: the network needs to be handed over with hydrogen (100 vol.%) or a blend of hydrogen and natural gas or biogas. During commissioning, the network is purged with nitrogen so no natural gas remains in the pipeline. Hydrogen is then introduced and hydrogen detection confirms the concentration is correct.
Securing networks for maintenance. When an existing network is purged to make it safe for maintenance, it’s flushed clean with nitrogen, and sometimes with air routed to a flare installation, until no explosive mixture remains in the pipeline. Only then can work safely begin. Once work is complete, the network needs to be recommissioned with gas: natural gas, biogas or hydrogen. The network is brought back up to concentration with nitrogen, after which the gas in the network is confirmed to be at the correct concentration.
Leak detection. For the foreseeable future, we’ll keep encountering situations where both natural gas and hydrogen can be present. Differentiating between the two is then necessary to determine whether a leak is natural gas or hydrogen. Leak searching is done in different ways: a probe, a drag sled, or a bell probe, depending on the work involved. Here too, reliable hydrogen detection is essential to quickly and accurately establish where and what you’re dealing with.
As an independent supplier, 7Solutions advises on and supplies, in consultation with grid operators, a device for the Dutch market that combines these measurement functions. We support you in carrying out these measurements with an easy-to-operate device, within all applicable safety requirements and with the necessary accuracy.
Storage of hydrogen cylinders. At storage locations for hydrogen or ammonia, we also advise on detection for personal and operational safety.
Hydrogen released during battery charging. Hydrogen is also released when charging traction battery packs. Distribution centres using electric internal transport in particular are places where hydrogen can be released during charging. Hydrogen detection is prescribed here too.
Why 7Solutions for your hydrogen detection needs
Hydrogen detection calls for knowledge of the substance, the application, and the right equipment. No situation is the same: decarbonization, transport, home heating, traction battery charging, new-build, conversion, maintenance, leak detection and storage each place their own demands on measuring range, accuracy and sensor type. Sensor technology itself makes a difference too, as shown by the cross-sensitivity of CO and O2 sensors to hydrogen.
7Solutions is an independent supplier of gas detection equipment and works with multiple manufacturers, including WatchGas, Dräger, Crowcon, Honeywell and Teledyne. Because we’re not tied to a single brand or sensor technology, we advise the device that genuinely fits your application, whether that’s portable gas detection in the field or a fixed solution that measures continuously.
The devices we supply are delivered ready to use and fully calibrated, so you can deploy them for hydrogen detection right away, across a range of 0 to 10,000 ppm, 0 to 100% LEL, or 1 to 100 vol.% for natural gas, biogas and/or hydrogen. You’re not on your own after delivery either: our in-house service and calibration department keeps your equipment, regardless of brand, reliable and up to date. If there’s no off-the-shelf solution yet for your specific application, our R&D department will think through a tailored solution with you.
We help companies and organizations carrying out hydrogen-related work to do so safely. We support users in detecting hydrogen leaks, deploying personal protective equipment for hydrogen, and setting up a permanent hydrogen detection system. Equipment rental is also available for short-term projects, so you don’t have to invest in devices you only need temporarily.
