Transmission, Distribution & Storage

Seasonal underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in porous media provides an as yet untested method for storing surplus renewable energy and balancing our energy demands. This study investigates the technical suitability for UHS in depleted hydrocarbon fields and one deep aquifer site in Taranaki Basin Aotearoa New Zealand. Prospective sites are assessed using a decision tree approach providing a “fast-track” method for identifying potential sites and a decision matrix approach for ranking optimal sites. Based on expert elicitation the most important factors to consider are storage capacity reservoir depth and parameters that affect hydrogen injectivity/withdrawal and containment. Results from both approaches suggest that Paleogene reservoirs from gas (or gas cap) fields provide the best option for demonstrating UHS in Aotearoa New Zealand and that the country’s projected 2050 hydrogen storage demand could be exceeded by developing one or two high ranking sites. Lower priority is assigned to heterolithic and typically finer grained labile and clay-rich Miocene oil reservoirs and to deep aquifers that have no proven hydrocarbon containment.

This document is phase 2 of the energy storage strategy study and it covers the storage challenges of the energy transition. We start in section 3 by covering historical and current natural gas imports into the UK and what these could look like in the future. In section 4 we explore what demand for hydrogen could look like – this has a high level of uncertainty and future policy decisions will have significant impacts on hydrogen volumes and annual variations. We generated two hydrogen storage scenarios based on National Grid’s Future Energy Scenarios and the Climate Change Committee’s Sixth Carbon Budget to assess the future need for hydrogen storage in the UK. We also looked at an extreme weather scenario resulting from an area of high-pressure settled over the British Isles resulting in very low ambient temperatures an unusually high demand for heating and almost no wind generation. In section 5 we investigate options for hydrogen storage and build on work previously carried out by SGN. We discuss the differences between the properties of hydrogen and natural gas and how this affects line pack and depletion of line pack. We discuss flexibility on the supply and demand side and how this can impact on hydrogen storage. We provide a summary table which compares the various options for storage. In section 5 we explore hydrogen trade and options for import and export. Using information from other innovation projects we also discuss production of hydrogen from nuclear power and the impact of hybrid appliances on gas demand for domestic heat. In section 7 we discuss the outputs from a stakeholder workshop with about 40 stakeholders across industry academia and government. The workshop covered UK gas storage strategy to date hydrogen demand and corresponding storage scenarios to 2050 including consideration of seasonal variation and storage options.

This study investigated the pressure-dependent CO2 effect on the hydrogen embrittlement of X80 and GB20# pipeline steels by combining experiments and first-principles calculations. Results revealed that the CO2 effect enhanced the fatigue crack growth for GB20# steel in 10 MPa CO₂-enriched hydrogen mixtures. However the improved degree by the CO₂ effect at 10 MPa was less pronounced than at 0.4 MPa which was found for the first time. This was attributed to the decreased adsorption rate of CO₂ on iron as hydrogen pressure increased. Therefore in high-pressure CO₂-enriched hydrogen mixtures CO2 could not significantly accelerate the inherent rapid hydrogen uptake at high pressure.

The large-scale integration of renewable energy sources leads to daily and seasonal mismatches between supply and demand and the curtailment of wind power. Hydrogen produced from surplus wind power offers an attractive solution to these challenges. In this paper we consider a large offshore wind park and analyze the need for hydrogen storage at the onshore and offshore sides of a large transportation pipeline that connects the wind park to the mainland. The results show that the pipeline with line pack storage though important for day-to-day fluctuations will not offer sufficient storage capacity to bridge seasonal differences. Furthermore the results show that if the pipeline is sufficiently sized additional storage is only needed on one side of the pipeline which would limit the needed investments. Results show that the policy which determines what part of the wind power is fed into the electricity grid and what part is converted into hydrogen has a significant influence on these seasonal storage needs. Therefore investment decisions for hydrogen systems should be made by considering both the onshore and offshore storage requirements in combination with electricity transport to the mainland.

In recent years there has been a significant increase in research on hydrogen due to the urgent need to move away from carbon-intensive energy sources. This transition highlights the critical role of hydrogen storage technology where hydrogen tanks are crucial for achieving cleaner energy solutions. This paper aims to provide a general overview of hydrogen treatment from a mechanical viewpoint and to create a comprehensive review that integrates the concepts of hydrogen safety and storage. This study explores the potential of hydrogen applications as a clean energy alternative and their role in various sectors including industry automotive aerospace and marine fields. The review also discusses design technologies safety measures material improvements social impacts and the regulatory landscape of hydrogen storage tanks and safety technology. This work provides a historical literature review up to 2014 and a systematic literature review from 2014 to the present to fill the gap between hydrogen storage and safety. In particular a fundamental feature of this work is leveraging systematic procedural techniques for performing an unbiased review study to offer a detailed analysis of contemporary advancements. This innovative approach differs significantly from conventional review methods since it involves a replicable scientific and transparent process which culminates in minimizing bias and allows for highlighting the fundamental issues about the topics of interest and the main conclusions of the experts in the field of reference. The systematic approach employed in the paper was used to analyze 55 scientific articles resulting in the identification of six primary categories. The key findings of this review work underline the need for improved materials enhanced safety protocols and robust infrastructure to support hydrogen adoption. More importantly one of the fundamental results of the present review analysis is pinpointing the central role that composite materials will play during the transition toward hydrogen applications based on thin-walled industrial vessels. Future research directions are also proposed in the paper thereby emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing challenges and facilitate the safe and efficient use of hydrogen.

Carbon dioxide and hydrogen storage in geological formations at Gt scale are two promising strategies toward net-zero carbon emissions. To date investigations into underground hydrogen storage (UHS) remain relatively limited in comparison to the more established knowledge body of underground carbon dioxide storage (UCS). Despite their analogous physical processes can be used for accelerating the advancements in UHS technology the existing distinctions possibly may hinder direct applicability. This review therefore contributes to advancing our fundamental understanding on the key differences between UCS and UHS through multi-scale comparisons. These comparisons encompass key factors influencing underground gas storage including storage media trapping mechanisms and respective fluid properties geochemical and biochemical reactions and injection scenarios. They provide guidance for the conversion of our existing knowledge from UCS to UHS emphasizing the necessity of incorporating these factors relevant to their trapping and loss mechanisms. The article also outlines future directions to address the crucial knowledge gaps identified aiming to enhance the utilisation of geological formations for hydrogen and carbon dioxide storage.

This study explores the integration and optimization of battery energy storage systems (BESSs) and hydrogen energy storage systems (HESSs) within an energy management system (EMS) using Kangwon National University’s Samcheok campus as a case study. This research focuses on designing BESSs and HESSs with specific technical specifications such as energy capacities and power ratings and their integration into the EMS. By employing MATLAB-based simulations this study analyzes energy dynamics grid interactions and load management strategies under various operational scenarios. Real-time data from the campus are utilized to examine energy consumption renewable energy generation grid power fluctuations and pricing dynamics providing key insights for system optimization. This study finds that a BESS manages energy fluctuations between 0.5 kWh and 3.7 kWh over a 24 h period with battery power remaining close to 4 W for extended periods. Grid power fluctuates between −5 kW and 75 kW while grid prices range from 75 to 120 USD/kWh peaking at 111 USD/kWh. Hydrogen energy storage varies from 1 kWh to 8 kWh with hydrogen power ranging from −40 kW to 40 kW. Load management keeps power stable at around 35 kW and PV power integration peaks at 48 kW by the 10th h. The findings highlight that BESSs and HESSs effectively manage energy distribution and storage improving system efficiency reducing energy costs by approximately 15% and enhancing grid stability by 20%. This study underscores the potential of BESSs and HESSs in stabilizing grid operations and integrating renewable energy. Future directions include advancements in storage technologies enhanced EMS capabilities through artificial intelligence and machine learning and the development of smart grid infrastructures. Policy recommendations stress the importance of regulatory support and stakeholder collaboration to drive innovation and scale deployment ensuring a sustainable energy future.

With rising demand for clean energy global focus turns to finding ideal sites for large-scale underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in depleted petroleum reservoirs. A thorough preliminary reservoir evaluation before hydrogen (H2) injection is crucial for UHS success and safety. Recent criteria for UHS often emphasize economics and chemistry neglecting key reservoir attributes. This study introduces a comprehensive framework for the reservoir-scale preliminary assessment specifically tailored for long-term H2 storage within depleted gas reservoirs. The evaluation criteria encompass critical components including reservoir geometry petrophysical properties tectonics and formation fluids. To illustrate the practical application of this approach we assess the Barnett shale play reservoir parameters. The assessment unfolds through three key stages: (1) A systematic evaluation of the reservoir's properties against our comprehensive screening criteria determines its suitability for H2 storage. (2) Using both homogeneous and multilayered gas reservoir models we explore the feasibility and efficiency of H2 storage. This phase involves an in-depth examination of reservoir behavior during the injection stage. (3) To enhance understanding of UHS performance sensitivity analyses investigate the impact of varying reservoir dimensions and injection/production pressures. The findings reveal the following: (a) Despite potential challenges associated with reservoir compaction and aquifer support the reservoir exhibits substantial promise as an H2 storage site. (b) Notably a pronounced increase in reservoir pressure manifests during the injection stage particularly in homogeneous reservoirs. (c) Furthermore optimizing injection-extraction cycle efficiency can be achieved by augmenting reservoir dimensions while maintaining a consistent thickness. To ensure a smooth transition to implementation further comprehensive investigations are advised including experimental and numerical studies to address injectivity concerns and explore storage site development. This evaluation framework is a valuable tool for assessing the potential of depleted gas reservoirs for large-scale hydrogen storage advancing global eco-friendly energy systems.

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a clean energy alternative offering effective storage solutions for widespread adoption. Advancements in storage electrolysis and fuel cell technologies position hydrogen as a pathway toward cleaner more efficient and resilient energy solutions across various sectors. However challenges like infrastructure development cost-effectiveness and system integration must be addressed. This review comprehensively examines above-ground hydrogen storage technologies and their applications. It highlights the importance of established hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure particularly in gaseous and LH2 systems. The review favors material-based storage for medium- and long-term needs addressing challenges like adverse thermodynamics and kinetics for metal hydrides. It explores hydrogen storage applications in mobile and stationary sectors including fuel-cell electric vehicles aviation maritime power generation systems off-grid stations power backups and combined renewable energy systems. The paper underscores hydrogen’s potential to revolutionize stationary applications and co-generation systems highlighting its significant role in future energy landscapes.

According to the European Hydrogen Strategy hydrogen will solve many of the problems with energy storage for balancing variable renewable energy sources (RES) supply and demand. At the same time we can see increasing popularity of the so-called energy communities (e.g. cooperatives) which (i) enable groups of entities to invest in manage and benefit from shared RES energy infrastructure; (ii) are expected to increase the energy independence of local communities from large energy corporations and increase the share of RES. Analyses were conducted on 2000 randomly selected energy cooperatives and four energy cooperatives formed on the basis of actual data. The hypotheses assumed in the research and positively verified in this paper are as follows: (i) there is a relationship between hydrogen storage capacity and the power of RES which allows an energy community to build energy independence; (ii) the type of RES generating source is meaningful when optimizing hydrogen storage capacity. The paper proves it is possible to build “island energy independence” at the local level using hydrogen storage and the efficiency of the power-to-power chain. The results presented are based on simulations carried out using a dedicated optimization model implemented by mixed integer programming. The authors’ next research projects will focus on optimizing capital expenditures and operating costs using the Levelized Cost of Electricity and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen methodologies.