The hydrogen storage pilot project H2CAST in the Etzel caverns in the German state of Lower Saxony will now include Gasunie as a partner. Today, STORAG ETZEL and Gasunie announced this. This cooperation, according to Gasunie, is a first step in the development of hydrogen storage facilities in Germany.

In the salt caverns close to Etzel, Germany, STORAG ETZEL and Gasunie hope to enable large-scale hydrogen storage with the H2CAST, or H2 CAvern Storage Transition, project.

The first phase entails a prototype project that will transform two of the existing salt caverns into hydrogen storage spaces and connect them with an above-ground installation. Gasunie will be in charge of building an above-ground infrastructure to link the two hydrogen caverns as part of the trial project. In 2026, the pilot project is anticipated to be completed.

The storage caverns are strategically positioned in Etzel, close to the projected Gasunie hydrogen network HyPerLink and the Energy-Hub Port of Wilhelmshaven, with excellent access to the Dutch and German hydrogen markets.