Underground Hydrogen Storage: Transforming Subsurface Science into Sustainable Energy Solutions
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, NM (United States)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
As the global economy moves toward net-zero carbon emissions, large-scale energy storage becomes essential to tackle the seasonal nature of renewable sources. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) offers a feasible solution by allowing surplus renewable energy to be transformed into hydrogen and stored in deep geological formations such as aquifers, salt caverns, or depleted reservoirs, making it available for use on demand. This study thoroughly evaluates UHS concepts, procedures, and challenges. This paper analyzes the most recent breakthroughs in UHS technology and identifies special conditions needed for its successful application, including site selection guidelines, technical and geological factors, and the significance of storage characteristics. The integrity of wells and caprock, which is important for safe and efficient storage, can be affected by the operating dynamics of the hydrogen cycle, notably the fluctuations in pressure and stress within storage formations. To evaluate its potential for broader adoption, we also examined economic elements such as cost-effectiveness and the technical practicality of large-scale storage. We also reviewed current UHS efforts and identified key knowledge gaps, primarily in the areas of hydrogen–rock interactions, geochemistry, gas migration control, microbial activities, and geomechanical stability. Resolving these technological challenges, regulatory frameworks, and environmental sustainability are essential to UHS’s long-term and extensive integration into the energy industry. This article provides a roadmap for UHS research and development, emphasizing the need for further research to fully realize the technology’s promise as a pillar of the hydrogen economy.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE; New Mexico Consortium; USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FE0032363; 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 2575594
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR--25-20097; 10.3390/en18030748; 1996-1073
- Journal Information:
- Energies, Journal Name: Energies Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 18; ISSN 1996-1073
- Publisher:
- MDPICopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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