As Germany moves towards a climate-neutral future, the importance of hydrogen as a key energy carrier becomes increasingly apparent.
Hydrogen holds promise as a CO2-free source of electricity generation, a cleaner alternative for industrial processes, and a means of storing excess renewable energy. However, to harness the full potential of hydrogen, efficient and reliable storage solutions are essential. Germany, with its existing natural gas storage infrastructure, aims to repurpose these facilities for hydrogen storage. But are they suitable, and what are the challenges and potential solutions involved?
A study published by energy industry associations last summer highlights the potential of existing storage facilities for hydrogen storage. Cavern storage facilities, with their large underground cavities, are deemed “particularly well suited” for hydrogen storage, according to Ingo Forstner, Head of Storage & Geothermal Energy at the Federal Association for Natural Gas, Oil, and Geoenergy (BVEG). However, the suitability of pore storage facilities needs to be assessed on a case-by-case basis, as only four out of sixteen such facilities are considered suitable for hydrogen storage.
Currently, numerous pilot projects are underway to explore hydrogen storage in natural gas storage facilities. One advanced project, called HyCAVmobil, led by energy company EWE in Rüdersdorf near Berlin, involves the flushing out of a 500-cubic-meter cavity in an underground salt dome. EWE plans to fill the cavity with hydrogen for testing starting from late summer. Quality control is a crucial aspect, particularly for applications in the mobility sector, where almost 100 percent purity is desired. EWE aims to apply the knowledge gained from this pilot project to larger caverns with 1000 times the volume.
Germany’s largest storage operator, Uniper, is also pursuing pilot projects for hydrogen storage. A 1000-cubic-meter cavern is planned in Krummhörn, Lower Saxony, with the construction expected to begin in the coming months. Uniper aims to start filling the cavern with hydrogen by the end of the year or the beginning of the next. The experience gained from these pilot projects will be used to inform the development of large-scale hydrogen storage systems.
RWE, another major energy company, plans to repurpose existing natural gas storage caverns in Gronau-Epe, North Rhine-Westphalia, and other locations for commercial hydrogen storage. The Gronau-Epe storage site is expected to offer a capacity of 28 million cubic meters of hydrogen for customers, with commercial operation planned for 2027. However, to meet the long-term scenarios outlined by the Federal Ministry of Economics, significantly larger storage capacities will be required.
While existing gas storage facilities offer a potential starting point, the current capacity falls short of meeting long-term hydrogen storage needs. The Energy Storage Initiative (Ines) suggests that the current stock of gas storage facilities can provide a hydrogen storage capacity of 32 terawatt hours, while long-term scenarios indicate a need for 72-74 terawatt hours by 2045. Meeting this demand would require substantial infrastructure upgrades and the conversion of existing facilities.
Building extensive new hydrogen storage projects poses an infrastructure challenge in Germany. The entire value chain, from planning and approval to implementation, needs to be reestablished. Currently, no commercial hydrogen storage facilities are in operation, and comprehensive experience in this field is lacking. Over the past years, storage capacities have been reduced rather than expanded. To achieve the necessary storage capacity for hydrogen, a considerable rebuilding of the value chain and investment in new projects is required.
The development of sufficient hydrogen storage capacity is crucial for the successful implementation of the energy transition in Germany. It will enable the reliable supply of green hydrogen, support the integration of renewable energy sources, and ensure a sustainable and resilient energy system. However, overcoming the infrastructure challenges and scaling up hydrogen storage will require concerted efforts from industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
Germany’s journey towards large-scale hydrogen storage is still in its early stages, but the ongoing pilot projects and initiatives signal the country’s commitment to realizing the potential of hydrogen as a clean energy solution. By leveraging its existing gas storage infrastructure, Germany aims to contribute to the global transition to a low-carbon future.
