Four Ways to Store Large Quantities of Hydrogen

Hydrogen can be stored in underground caverns or geological structures in one of four ways. The easiest way to store hydrogen is in salt caverns. These are created by injecting fresh water or water with low salt content into a well down to a salt geological layer, with the extraction of salt-saturated brine. The caverns measure between 50 and 100 metres in diameter and up to several hundred meters tall where the salt formation is thick enough. Salt caverns are not lined, as the salt itself acts as a sealant. This type of storage is suitable for storing hydrogen at extremely high pressures where the salt layer is deep enough. The second way to store large quantities of hydrogen is to inject pure hydrogen or a hydrogen-methane mix into porous rock, in a depleted oil or gas field, or an aquifer. The hydrogen content may vary from a few per cent to 100 per cent. Reservoir and biochemical testing/modelling are to be performed accordingly. The hydrogen-methane mix can be withdrawn and injected into the network. Alternatively, hydrogen can be separated from methane at the well head, for example using pressure swing adsorption technology. Hydrogen can also be stored underground by converting it into a liquid carrier, such as ammonia, which can then be stored in a Lined Rock Cavern. A liner is required to prevent contact between ammonia and water. The pressure and temperature are adapted to optimise the entire supply chain. The advantage of using ammonia is that proper storage conditions can be fulfilled without the need for excessive pressure or temperature. Lastly, hydrogen can be stored underground by directly injecting it into a Lined Rock Cavern. This may take the form of compressed storage (gaseous hydrogen) or cryogenic storage (liquid hydrogen), the choice once again depending on the supply chain as a whole. A liner is required owing to extremely high pressures or extremely low temperatures. It should be noted that storing hydrogen in a Lined Rock Cavern involves a few technical difficulties that have yet to be resolved. These four underground hydrogen storage techniques differ in terms of their technology readiness level (TRL) and cost. All four will likely be required in the coming years to satisfy the needs of a booming market.