The HyStorPor project has shown that subsurface geological storage of hydrogen is possible – an important development for the deployment of intermittent renewable energy.
The £1.4m three-and-a-half year project funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council initiated a comprehensive, worldwide research effort on hydrogen storage, becoming a pioneer in systematically examining this field. Before HyStorPor there were limited research initiatives related to hydrogen storage. Being able to store large amounts of hydrogen is key to the energy transition and to the move to renewable sources. When demand for electricity is low, wind and solar power can be converted into hydrogen and stored, before being drawn down and turned back into energy when demand is high.
The team identified different challenges around storing hydrogen and then delved into different research questions.