German Etzel gas storage facility begins testing hydrogen storage

The transition to a hydrogen economy has been a frequent topic of discussion in the European Union in recent years. Hydrogen is expected to help not only with seasonal energy storage, but also with the decarbonisation of industry and other sectors. However, greater use of hydrogen will require sufficient storage capacity, which could also be provided by some existing underground gas storage facilities. A new phase of the H2CAST Etzel pilot project has now begun at the German Etzel storage facility, with the operator starting to inject small volumes of hydrogen.

To make more intensive use of hydrogen, not only in the energy sector, sufficient infrastructure will be needed in addition to supplies of hydrogen itself. This does not simply mean building new hydrogen pipelines to transport and distribute hydrogen.

A key challenge will also be finding a way to store hydrogen over the long term, and some existing underground gas storage facilities could potentially be used for this purpose. Testing the possibilities for hydrogen storage is also the aim of the H2CAST Etzel research and development project at the German storage facility of the same name.

Last year, the storage facility operator successfully completed the conversion of two of its caverns for hydrogen storage, including leak-tightness tests. At the beginning of this year, the facility then began injecting its first volumes of hydrogen. The project has several more milestones ahead this year, one of which is the construction and commissioning of a hydrogen purification unit.

"After the expected initial difficulties in purchasing hydrogen—it is clear that the hydrogen market is still in its infancy—several tonnes had been safely stored by the end of January at a maximum pressure of 170 bar. We are proud of what we have achieved so far, and have now demonstrated that the existing facilities in the Etzel cavern field are suitable for hydrogen storage. Our specialist colleagues in gas operations have the process steps for hydrogen filling under control," said Carsten Reekers, project manager for H2CAST Etzel.

For now, hydrogen is being transported to the storage facility by truck, as the necessary pipeline infrastructure is not available. According to H2CAST Etzel, an average of three truckloads a week should be delivered to the facility. In total, around 200 truck deliveries will be needed to reach the target of 90 tonnes of hydrogen. In the future, however, the storage facility is expected to be connected to hydrogen pipeline infrastructure, the construction of which has already been approved.