Underground hydrogen storage is a potential long-duration energy storage option for a low-carbon economy. While research into the technical feasibility of hydrogen storage in various geologic formations is ongoing, existing underground gas storage (UGS) facilities are appealing candidates because of their demonstrated ability to store and deliver gas. We estimate that transitioning U.S. UGS facilities from natural gas to pure hydrogen storage would reduce their collective working-gas energy by 75%, from 1,282 TWh to 327 TWh. However, withdrawals from most (73%) UGS facilities could be increased to maintain current energy demands with a 20% hydrogen-natural gas blend. Hydrogen demand projections for the U.S. suggest that hundreds of new underground hydrogen storage facilities may be needed by 2050. Storing pure hydrogen or 20-60% hydrogen blends in UGS facilities can sufficiently buffer this demand demonstrating that partial transitions of UGS infrastructure to hydrogen storage could substantially reduce the need for new facilities.
Hydrogen is a high energy content fuel that can be produced with low or zero greenhouse gas emissions from water and other chemicals. Creating hydrogen during periods of energy surplus and storing it underground is one long-duration, low-emission, energy storage option that can balance supply and demand for an entire electric grid. In the United States (U.S.), existing underground gas storage (UGS) facilities are a logical first place to consider subsurface hydrogen storage, because their geology has proven favorable for storing natural gas. We estimated that existing UGS facilities can store 327 TW-h (9.8 million metric tons) of pure hydrogen. Transitioning from natural gas to pure hydrogen storage would reduce the total energy stored in existing UGS facilities by ∼75%. Storing hydrogen-natural gas mixtures also reduces energy storage potential, but most (73.2%) UGS facilities can meet current energy demands with a 20% hydrogen blend. U.S. UGS facilities can store 23.9%-44.6% of the projected high and low hydrogen demand for 2050, respectively, suggesting that a partial transition of UGS infrastructure could reduce the need for new hydrogen storage facilities. These findings motivate research that explores the technical feasibility of underground hydrogen storage in natural gas storage reservoirs. LACKEY ET AL.
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