Emerging Fuels Institute

The shift to next-generation energy sources requires rigorous science and proven safety protocols. The Emerging Fuels Institute (EFI)—an initiative of Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI)—serves as the collaborative platform for applied research in the renewable energy sector. We focus on the safe, reliable transmission and storage of hydrogen, hydrogen blends, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and other emerging fuels through existing and future pipeline infrastructure. 

We bring together pipeline operators, technology providers, research organizations, and regulatory bodies. Together, we close critical knowledge gaps and accelerate the transition to lower-carbon fuels without compromising infrastructure integrity or public safety. 

Approvals, public confidence, and safe deployment must keep pace with scientific advancements. EFI translates complex, first-of-its-kind research into practical guidance, standards input, and decision-ready insights. 

We intentionally align our work with regulatory and standards-development bodies, including API, ASME, CSA, and PHMSA. This alignment minimizes duplication and ensures our research outcomes directly inform industry codes, recommended practices, and regulatory frameworks. Our continuous feedback loop means that research gaps identified by standards organizations feed directly into our funded projects. Completed research then routes back to update industry standards, ensuring that operators and regulators never have to choose between innovation and safety. 

Hydrogen and Hydrogen Blends 

1. Infrastructure Integrity: We study pipe material properties, fracture mechanics, and ways to mitigate hydrogen cracking and embrittlement. 
2. Measurement and Quality: Our teams analyze gas composition, blend measurement, and the impacts of hydrogen on meters. 
3. Inspection and Maintenance: We evaluate in-line inspection (ILI) performance, welding procedures, and repair practices for hydrogen service. 
4. Compression and Storage: We assess hydrogen impacts on compressors, turbines, wellbore integrity, and underground storage leakage. 
5. Safety Protocols: We develop leak detection technologies and risk assessment guidelines to protect personnel and the public. 

CO₂ Transport and Storage 

1. Material Compatibility: We evaluate corrosion, cracking, and the performance of non-metallic materials in dense-phase CO₂ service. 
2. Safety Modeling: Our research includes dispersion modeling and fracture mechanics to ensure safe transport. 
3. System Specifications: We study equations of state and measurement performance to optimize CO₂ infrastructure. 

Solving complex regulatory and technical challenges requires teamwork. Unlike traditional committee-based programs, EFI concentrates resources and governance on a single strategic theme over multiple years. This specialized structure gives participating members direct influence over research direction, priority setting, and funding decisions. 

Our member investments are amplified through partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy, national laboratories, and international research organizations. With members from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, we deliver outsized technical value and accelerate learning across the global pipeline industry. 

Credible, peer-driven research is the foundation of a resilient energy future. The EFI is helping to build safer, more reliable pipeline systems for the next generation of energy.