The BGSA consortium, spearheaded by distribution network Cadent, has secured funding from regulator Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund to explore the underground hydrogen storage potential in the East Midlands. This grant aims to facilitate a geological study of depleted oil reservoirs in the region.
The East Midlands Storage team includes prominent entities such as the British Geological Survey (BGS), Star Energy Group, Net Zero Strategy, and the University of Edinburgh. Their collective goal is to conduct a feasibility assessment to determine the region’s capability to adopt hydrogen storage technologies.
“This funding is exciting news,” stated Sally Brewis, Cadent’s head of regional development. She emphasized that the evaluation might lay the groundwork for a hydrogen storage demonstration project in subsequent funding rounds. Such a project could significantly enhance the hydrogen economy in the region, facilitating faster industrial decarbonization.
The innovative concept of using disused oil reservoirs for hydrogen storage represents a new frontier for the industry, potentially leading to extensive benefits if proven viable. Edward Hough, BGS’s research lead in underground energy storage, highlighted the importance of the East Midlands’ natural geology in supporting hydrogen use in the area. He explained that storing hydrogen provides flexibility to the energy system, allowing excess hydrogen to be stored and utilized during high-demand periods.
In this project, BGS aims to leverage its comprehensive laboratory and mapping programs to pinpoint areas of the underground geology that could serve as future exploration targets for hydrogen storage in bedrock.
If the study’s findings are promising, they might pave the way for expanding Cadent’s proposed hydrogen pipeline. Currently, Cadent is engaged in the engineering design work for the East Midlands segment of a planned link along the East Coast of England, connecting hydrogen producers with industrial customers.
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