Germany – The HyStorage research project seeks to explore the influence of hydrogen on porous rock formations in order to establish the feasibility and integrity of pore storage facilities for hydrogen storage.
At Uniper Energy Storage’s Bierwang facility, a specific drilling site was put up with a specialized gas-technical unit for the storage test. The first hydrogen will be injected in September as commissioning gets underway.
According to mining law, Uniper Energy Storage is the consortium’s coordinator, test operator, and test-related responsibility. In addition, the partnership is backed by interdisciplinary partners from business and science, including OGE, RAG Austria, SEFE Securing Energy for Europe, and NAFTA, who all contribute their knowledge. The Southern Bavarian Mining Authority has approved the proposal.
In the storage test, various methane-hydrogen gas mixes with 5%, 10%, and 25% hydrogen content in the natural gas will be injected into a smaller former natural gas reservoir in three operational phases, and will then be withdrawn after a standstill period of roughly three months. The current Bierwang natural gas storage facility is not connected to the storage horizon.
Site evaluation
For the European energy market to become decarbonized, hydrogen is quickly becoming a crucial component. It is reasonable to expect that in addition to the operation of the pipelines for pure hydrogen, a growth in the proportion of hydrogen in the natural gas grid will enable it to reach the subterranean gas storage facilities. The ability to convert and store volatile renewable energies in large quantities is a major benefit of porous rock storage systems.
An specific site evaluation is necessary for hydrogen storage in porous rock reservoirs. It is possible to anticipate reliable technical assessments for the storage of hydrogen in porous rock formations as early as 2024 thanks to the experience of the project’s experienced partners and the scientific backing of the test.
