The FrHyGe project, aimed at validating underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns on an industrial scale, has officially been launched by a European consortium. The project, which is supported and funded by the European Union via the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, has a budget of €43M.
FrHyGe plans to construct an industrial demonstrator in Manosque, France, and study the project’s replicability in Harsefeld, Germany, with plans for future application across Europe.
The four objectives of the project are:
1. Converting natural gas or brine salt cavern for hydrogen storage
2. Demonstrating the potential to inject and withdraw 100 tonnes of hydrogen over cycles ranging from one hour to one week in converted caverns at the Manosque site
3. Exploring market penetration, supply chains, and preparing for replication at other sites in various European countries including France and Germany
4. Evaluating environmental impacts, safety parameters, and regulations in preparation for deployment on the GeoH2 (Manosque) and SaltHy (Harsefeld) projects.
Storengy, as the project coordinator, will work alongside its partners to conduct technical, economic, regulatory, environmental, and safety studies. They aspire to establish a roadmap to deploy the cavern conversion and creation process swiftly, contributing to a solid European hydrogen storage and transportation backbone.
Beginning its journey in March 2024, the FrHyGe project has outlined a few core phases. From 2024 to 2025 studies for the implementation of the demonstrator at the Manosque site and technology replicability at the SaltHy site in Germany will take place. Subsequently, construction will ensue from 2026 to 2027.
From 2027 to 2029, 100 injection and withdrawal cycles from two caverns at the Géométhane site in Manosque will take place, studying and analyzing hydrogen reactions based on varying pressures.
The Clean Hydrogen Partnership facilitates research and innovation activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe. It aims to expedite the development of advanced clean hydrogen applications ready for market, across sectors such as energy, transport, buildings, and industry, while improving the clean hydrogen value chain’s competitiveness.
The FrHyGe project is support by multiple industry-leading partners including Storengy, ARMINES, Ineris, ESK, Enagás, GRTgaz, Mines Paris PSL, Geostock, IFP Energies Nouvelles, ECO-MED, Géométhane, Capenergies, Artelys and Axens.
