Uniper Energy Storage has announced its most recent plan to develop a solution for large-volume hydrogen storage in north-west Germany. The company aims to achieve this through the development of salt caverns. The plan includes the creation of an underground storage facility with a capacity of 250 to 600GWh of hydrogen by 2030. Research will be conducted in sites surrounding the designated area, such as lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, along the 9,700km hydrogen core network.
Uniper’s existing projects, the Hydrogen Pilot Cavern (HPC) in Krummhörn and HyStorage project in Bierwang, will play a crucial role in this new endeavour as part of the Greener Gases strategy. The Krummhörn project is expected to deliver results by 2025, paving the way for further commercial development. An investment of 200 million euros will facilitate the scale-up of the storage facility, leading to an expanded capacity by 2030.
To ensure effectiveness, Uniper plans to conduct a comprehensive market consultation to anticipate the demand for hydrogen storage capacities until March 2024. Despite the extensive research, the success of the project hinges on regulatory and funding frameworks, as emphasised by Uniper’s COO, Holger Kreetz. Managing Director Doug Waters highlighted the company’s aim to repurpose storage capacities for hydrogen storage, enabling better management of renewable energy and supporting industries with challenging electrification needs.
For more information visit www.uniper.energy
