Underground hydrogen storage: The techno-economic perspective

Area of Science:

• Energy Policy
• Geological Engineering
• Sustainable Fuels

Background:

• Global energy policies, including the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, necessitate reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
• Green hydrogen is recognized as a clean fuel, driving increased investment in its production and storage infrastructure.
• Effective hydrogen storage is crucial for integrating renewable energy sources and achieving decarbonization goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the techno-economical feasibility of various underground hydrogen storage technologies.
• To identify the most economically attractive geological environments for large-scale hydrogen storage.
• To highlight the role of data analytics and machine learning in advancing geological storage knowledge.

Main Methods:

• Review and techno-economical appraisal of underground hydrogen storage options.
• Classification of geological storage environments into porous media (depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, aquifers) and rock cavities (hard rock caverns, salt caverns, abandoned mines).
• Analysis of technological requirements and capital costs associated with different storage methods.

Main Results:

• Porous media present the most economically attractive option for underground hydrogen storage.
• Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs are highly favored due to omitted site characterization and cavern mining.
• Aquifers offer a simpler construction alternative, making them a strong secondary option.

Conclusions:

• Underground storage in porous geological formations is a viable and cost-effective strategy for green hydrogen.
• Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers are the most promising sites for future hydrogen storage infrastructure.
• Further research utilizing data analytics and machine learning can optimize geological hydrogen storage technologies.