Hydrogen Pipeline Compression Cost Calculator

Quantify the energy and operating cost of recompressing hydrogen in midstream service. Provide daily mass flow, the required pressure boost, compressor efficiency, and your blended electricity price. Optionally add inlet pressure, gas temperature, and a grid emission factor to translate energy use into Scope 2 carbon. The calculator outputs average compressor power, daily and annual electricity expense, and daily emissions so you can size electrical infrastructure, compare compressors, or complete LCOS disclosures.

Average kilograms per day moving through the compressor station.
Additional bar the station must add above inlet pressure to meet downstream requirements.
Measured or design-point efficiency for the hydrogen compressor skid.
Blended cost of power after demand, delivery, and time-of-use charges.
Default 30. Adjust if the pipeline receives hydrogen at higher or lower absolute pressure.
Default 25. Use the suction temperature at the compressor inlet for more precision.
Default 0.32. Override with regional grid intensity to translate energy use into scope 2 emissions.

Formula assumes steady-state compression, ideal-gas behaviour, and full-load operation. Validate against OEM datasheets, process simulations, and utility interconnection requirements before finalising equipment selections or energy budgets.

Examples

  • 50,000 kg/day, 30 bar boost, 70% efficiency, $0.09/kWh, 30 bar inlet, 25 °C, and a 0.32 kg CO₂e/kWh grid ⇒ 780.62 kW average load, 18,734.84 kWh/day, $1,686.14 per day, $615,439.55 per year, and 5,995.15 kg CO₂e/day.
  • 24,000 kg/day, 18 bar boost, 82% efficiency, $0.11/kWh, 35 bar inlet, 30 °C gas, and a 0.45 kg CO₂e/kWh grid ⇒ 186.77 kW average, 4,482.54 kWh/day, $493.08 per day, $179,974.03 per year, and 2,017.14 kg CO₂e/day.

FAQ

Can I model multiple compressor stations?

Multiply throughput by the number of identical stations or run the calculator for each node and sum the results.

Does the tool include capital costs?

No. Pair this operating energy estimate with a CAPEX model to evaluate levelised cost of hydrogen delivery.

How do I reflect intercooling or waste-heat recovery?

Adjust the efficiency input upward to represent performance gains from intercooling or subtract recovered energy from the electricity price.

What if my inlet pressure fluctuates?

Use the lowest expected inlet pressure to stay conservative or run best/likely/worst cases to build an operating range.

Can I convert the output to specific energy (kWh/kg)?

Yes. Divide daily energy (kWh) by the daily throughput to see kWh per kilogram and compare against electrolyzer specifications or pipeline tariffs.

Additional Information

  • Calculations assume ideal-gas behaviour for hydrogen with k = 1.41 and a specific gas constant of 4,124 J/(kg·K).
  • Specific work is adjusted by the entered isentropic efficiency; lower efficiencies increase both kW load and energy cost.
  • Average power divides daily energy by 24 hours to support transformer sizing, backup power planning, and demand charge estimates.
  • Annual operating expense multiplies daily cost by 365 with no downtime; add maintenance outages or night-rate pricing externally.
  • Grid emission factor converts kWh consumption into kg CO₂e for lifecycle cost of hydrogen (LCOH) models and regulatory filings.
  • If you operate in stages, sum the outputs for each stage or adjust the pressure boost to match stage-specific pressure ratios.

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