IEA Hydrogen Task 42: Underground Hydrogen Storage

Hydrogen is expected to become a pivotal and cross-sectoral energy carrier in the future renewable energy system. While being generated from variable wind and solar energy and foreseeing a wide range of applications in electricity, heating, transport and industry sectors, hydrogen can provide flexibility and balancing capacities at hourly, daily and inter-seasonal timescales.

Like for natural gas in the present-day energy system, large-scale underground storage of hydrogen will be vital to maintain secure and affordable supply as the world becomes increasingly dependent on renewable energy sources. Subsurface reservoirs such as gas fields, aquifers and solution-mined salt caverns represent proven and mature options for large-scale storage of natural gas and its components carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In many places in the world these gases have been trapped in porous and sealed reservoirs over geological time intervals of millions of years. Despite the fact that hydrogen is the most abundant element of the universe, natural accumulations in the subsurface are rare.

The storability of hydrogen in subsurface formation is being investigated in the H2 TCP Task 42 and tested in both experimental set-ups and demonstration projects. The hydrogen TCP aims to accelerate hydrogen implementation and widespread utilization to optimize environmental protection, improve energy security and promote economic development internationally.

The Task structure incorporates 6 Subtasks (A-F) that are defined according to the main thematic research challenges that are currently in focus by industry, the scientific community and regulators.

Subtask A. Hydrogen conversion and contamination
Subtask B. Storage integrity
Subtask C. Storage performance
Subtask D. Surface facilities, wells and materials
Subtask E. Economics and system integration
Subtask F. Planning, regulation, safety and societal embedding

H2 TCP Task 42 is a part of the H2 TCPs with 26 Contracting Parties (24 Countries + European Commission and UNIDO) and 7 Sponsor Members

Project lead

Dr. Torsten Clemens
OMV Energie
Trabrennstr. 6-8, 1020 Wien
Österreich
E-Mail: torsten.clemens@omv.com