German energy giant Uniper is set to begin testing an underground hydrogen storage facility in Krummhörn, located in the northern district by the North Sea. This initiative marks a significant step in Germany's ambitious plan to transform its energy system towards carbon neutrality. The facility, situated 1,700 meters below ground, features a storage chamber with a diameter of 16 meters, a height of 30 meters, and a volume of approximately 3,000 cubic meters.
The primary objective of this test facility is to assess how materials and technology interact with hydrogen, a gas expected to play a pivotal role as a green fuel for various industries. As Germany aims to lead the global shift towards a sustainable energy future, the demand for hydrogen storage facilities is anticipated to surge. Uniper, recently nationalized and already the country’s largest natural gas storage operator, is positioning itself as a trailblazer in the development of a European hydrogen economy. Lower Saxony, with its strategic location on the North Sea and existing energy infrastructure, is poised to become a central hub in Germany's energy transition.
The storage chamber is conveniently located near the planned hydrogen pipeline network, making it an ideal site for future hydrogen distribution. Green hydrogen will be delivered to the facility by tanker, and the storage chamber is expected to be filled in late September. Over the next two years, Uniper will evaluate the economic viability of hydrogen storage. If successful, the company plans to expand the chamber for commercial use, with the potential to increase its capacity to around 250 gigawatt hours. This expansion could take three to five years and require an investment of up to €500 million ($558 million).
In addition to the test facility, Uniper owns three other chambers in Krummhörn that were previously used for natural gas storage. These chambers, currently filled with water, could be converted for hydrogen storage if the tests prove successful. Furthermore, Uniper has plans to develop up to six new hydrogen storage chambers in the area, potentially achieving a total storage capacity of up to 600 gigawatt hours by 2030. The company is also exploring additional locations for hydrogen storage in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia.
While Uniper's project is groundbreaking, it is not the first of its kind in Germany. The Oldenburg-based energy company EWE has already been testing hydrogen storage in a facility in Rüdersdorf, near Berlin.
As Germany continues to pioneer the hydrogen economy, projects like Uniper's underground storage facility are crucial in establishing a robust and sustainable energy infrastructure that can meet the growing demands of the future.
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