Hydrogen underground storage systems in Nordic countries are poised to revolutionize the green hydrogen economy. These storages are essential for managing the imbalance between green hydrogen production and consumption, ensuring a stable supply to Power-to-X companies. The key to unlocking this potential lies in robust co-operation between industries and research.
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- The HUG project by VTT, in collaboration with GTK and industrial partners, explores the underground storage of hydrogen in Finland's Nordic bedrock, leveraging local expertise in subterranean construction.
- Addressing challenges like hydrogen's flammability and environmental impacts, the project encompasses holistic research and collaboration to create effective, safe, and sustainable storage solutions.
- Developing guidelines, techno-economic estimates, and business models, the HUG initiative delivers a comprehensive roadmap from conceptual design to detailed construction for hydrogen storage systems.
- This collaborative effort aims to facilitate Finland's green transition and create global business opportunities by ensuring a robust fossil-free energy supply and seamless ecosystem operations.
This summary is written by AI and checked by a human.
Last year, VTT, in collaboration with GTK and industrial partner organizations, started a research project called Hydrogen UnderGround (HUG) to investigate the underground storage of hydrogen. The Nordic bedrock conditions practically require new research of these underground storage facilities where suitable natural formations are not available to establish such storage.
“The project leverages Finland's extensive knowledge of underground construction in hard rock conditions. Although Finland has expertise in building caverns for liquid fuels, constructing a large storage for flammable gas at high pressure presents new challenges. This is where the collaboration shines, as multiple construction possibilities and innovative design solutions are explored,” says Pasi Valkokari at VTT.
This initiative aims to create a comprehensive understanding of the requirements and specifications for constructing large-scale underground hydrogen storage, including materials, process technology, and operational guidelines. It also provides business model concepts, techno-economic estimates, and safety guidelines.
The systemic nature of hydrogen storage requires a holistic approach, addressing interlinked research questions and solutions. Effective collaboration across all HUG work packages and with company partners is crucial. This approach ensures that solutions are not developed in isolation, which could lead to severe consequences in real-life implementation.
Addressing safety and sustainability
Safety is a paramount concern in hydrogen storage. The properties of hydrogen, such as its small molecular size and small ignition energy in addition to cycling pressure and temperature in the dynamic operation of the storage, pose design challenges. Co-operation between multiple work packages and companies is essential to optimize these aspects alongside site and rock properties, cavern design, and liner design.
The project also considers environmental effects, such as potential diffusion of hydrogen into bedrock and groundwater. Geochemical modeling supports environmental licensing and liner material design, ensuring sustainability and responsibility.
Creating a roadmap for implementation
Research within the HUG project builds guidelines and models to support decision-making regarding hydrogen storage systems. These encompass economic, ecosystem, societal, geological, technical, and human factors, all brought together in a holistic roadmap for implementation.
Companies benefit from predesign level requirements and specifications, enabling effective planning for large-scale underground storages and operations.
A roadmap is essential for moving from conceptual design to detailed design and actual construction of hydrogen storage. This systemic challenge encompasses cavern design, liner and technical solutions, distribution interfaces, hydrogen acquisition, construction, operation, and environmental factors. Regulation specifically concerning hydrogen storage, which is currently not yet in place, also plays a significant role.
The HUG project highlights the importance of co-operation between industry and research in developing industrial scale underground hydrogen storage in Nordic countries.
“By working together, we can ensure robust fossil-free energy supply and seamless ecosystem operations, driving the green transition and creating new international business opportunities. The future of hydrogen storage is bright, powered by collaboration and innovation,” Pasi Valkokari concludes.
The HUG project is co-funded by Business Finland, and it is a part of the Neste’s and Valmet’s Veturi ecosystems. More information of the project and it’s partner available on the project’s website https://www.hug-h2storage.fi/.
