Imagine using giant underground salt caves as massive batteries for hydrogen gas. Instead of building expensive new tanks, this project figures out how to turn old natural gas caves into hydrogen warehouses. It's like repurposing an old warehouse to store a new type of product, making sure it doesn't leak and can be filled and emptied quickly.
Large-scale hydrogen storage is currently too expensive and technically unproven for wide market uptake. This prevents the efficient integration of intermittent renewable energy into the industrial grid.
A conversion process to turn natural gas or brine caverns into hydrogen storage and a TRL8 demonstrator for H2 cyclability.
If you are a grid operator dealing with the instability of renewable energy — this project developed a conversion process for salt caverns that allows for 100 cycles of hydrogen storage. This ensures a steady supply of energy even when the wind doesn't blow.
If you are a plant manager dealing with high costs of hydrogen procurement — this project is targeting a CAPEX below 10 €/Kg of H2 stored. This makes large-scale hydrogen availability economically viable for decarbonizing industrial heat.
If you are a consultant dealing with complex permitting for energy sites — this project developed guidelines for safety, regulation, and normative adaptations. This speeds up the deployment of storage sites across the European Hydrogen Backbone.
The project aims to achieve a CAPEX below 10 €/Kg of H2 stored.
The project is demonstrating H2 storage and cyclability in a cavern with a 3000 tons potential.
Based on available project data, the project focuses on delivering a conversion process and up-scale strategies for EU replication, but specific licensing terms are not detailed.
The project assesses risks and environmental impacts to provide guidelines for safety, regulation, and normative adaptations in Europe.
The project aims to open a path toward commercial storage of 38 ktons of H2 in several EU countries as soon as 2030.
The consortium is heavily industry-driven with a 74% industry ratio, comprising 14 industrial partners including 3 SMEs. Led by Storengy, a global leader in underground storage, the group spans 4 countries (BE, DE, ES, FR), indicating a strong focus on commercial replication and cross-border standardization rather than pure academic research.
Contact Storengy SAS regarding the FrHyGe cavern conversion process.
Contact us to connect with the FrHyGe consortium for hydrogen storage licensing.
