The global investment in hydrogen is expected to reach $320 billion by 2030, making the selection of appropriate storage methods a crucial decision.
Underground hydrogen storage, particularly within salt caverns, is recognized as a highly promising energy storage solution due to its cost-effectiveness and the unique properties of salt caverns—such as low permeability and high deformation resistance. While salt cavern hydrogen storage (SCHS) has been implemented worldwide, research and selection criteria have often focused too narrowly on the caverns themselves, ignoring wider social and environmental factors.
The research presented by Xiang Hao, Hui Zhao, and Yuanyuan Ge introduces a robust framework for selecting optimal salt caverns for hydrogen storage. This framework integrates subjective and objective perspectives, assessing the social and environmental impacts, properties of the salt caverns, and supply-demand dynamics. By employing a multi-criteria decision-making model based on prospect theory, the study seeks to provide a balanced and thorough selection process.
Using the Jintan area in Jiangsu Province, China, as a case study, the researchers identified an optimal salt cavern along with an alternative choice from five candidates. The selection process was rigorously validated through sensitivity analysis and comparative analysis, ensuring that findings are not only theoretically sound but also practically applicable.
A standout feature of this study is its methodological innovation. By combining subjective and objective weighting with cumulative prospect theory, the researchers aim to counteract the limitations of relying on a single evaluation method. This approach reduces expert biases and enhances the scientific rigor of decision-making.
