Hydrogen 5.0: Interdisciplinary Development of a Proof-of-Concept Smart System for Green Hydrogen Leak Detection

Green hydrogen is a promising energy vector for industrial applications. However, hydrogen leaks can occur causing greenhouse effects and posing safety risks for operators and local communities, potentially leading to legal liabilities. Industry 4.0 focuses on digital industrial modernization, while Industry 5.0 emphasizes collaborative, human-centered, and sustainable processes. This study developed and analyzed an Industry 5.0 proof of concept as an additional safety layer for hydrogen leak management. The proof of concept was implemented using Raspberry Pi microcomputers, integrated computer vision, and OpenAI GPT-3 for dynamic email communication. A legal liability analysis for Chile and Spain identified potential challenges in transitioning the system into a market-ready product. The findings suggest the system should act as a complementary safety layer rather than a primary detection system to mitigate legal liability risks, as operational deployment without full certification and validation could lead to malfunctions. This study illustrated how hydrogen detection and management can be integrated into Industry 5.0 smart systems. With growing global interest in sustainable engineering and AI regulation, as reflected in Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, legal considerations over technologies like the one presented in this study are becoming increasingly relevant.