A comprehensive review on geo-storage of H2 in salt caverns: Prospect and research advances

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 356; p. 129609
• Main Authors: Tackie-Otoo, Bennet Nii, Haq, Md Bashirul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2024
• Subjects: Carbon capture and sequestration; Carbon dioxide; Hydrogen; Natural gas; Salt caverns; Underground hydrogen storage; Carbon capture and sequestration; Salt caverns; Underground hydrogen storage; Hydrogen; Natural gas; Carbon dioxide
• ISSN: 0016-2361
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2023.129609

•Salt caverns offer safe and efficient storage for UHS, allowing for peak load cycling and swift injection/withdrawal.•Salt caverns are cost-effective and require minimal cushion gas, making them ideal for short-term storage of hydrogen.•Various project initiatives are ongoing to improve the understanding and prove the viability of UHS in salt caverns.•Salt caverns demonstrate excellent integrity for UHS, though impurities and microbial activity can impact their integrity.•Rock strength increases with depth but can be compromised by temperature increases and the presence of impurities.•Numerical modelling enhances UHS design, assessing cavern stability and tightness criteria. The demand for clean and sustainable energy has driven the need for efficient storage. Hydrogen being a carbon–neutral energy carrier, offers a versatile solution. However, reliable large-scale storage is crucial due to renewable energy fluctuations and production challenges. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in salt caverns has emerged as a favorable option given its numerous benefits, including high withdrawal capacity, low creation cost, and enhanced safety. This review provides a comprehensive examination of UHS in salt caverns. It begins with an overview of the potential of salt caverns for UHS, comparing them to UHS in porous media. Then discusses potential sites and various research initiatives related to UHS in salt caverns. Detailed attention is given to the integrity of salt caverns for UHS, comparing them to porous media, and a brief discussion on the transport mechanisms of hydrogen in salt caverns is included. Furthermore, the review covers experimental and modeling works concerning salt caverns for UHS. The review reveals that UHS in salt caverns plays a vital role in the decarbonization of the various energy sectors as there are numerous research initiatives in this regard. The various experimental and modelling works prove that salt caverns exhibit high storage integrity for UHS, despite the specific properties of hydrogen. The different salt deformation mechanisms act competitively to prevent significant permeability evolution. Further investigations were recommended to focus on the monitoring and control as well. In conclusion, this review offers a concise and focused understanding of UHS in salt caverns.