EWE AG is converting the natural gas storage facility in Huntorf for hydrogen storage. The project is part of the IPCEI initiative “Clean Hydrogen Coastline” and is already the company's second research project. The energy provider will present its plans for the conversion on June 3, followed by an information event.
The project to convert the Huntorf natural gas storage facility to hydrogen is part of the IPCEI initiative “Clean Hydrogen Coastline.” The goal is to convert one of seven large underground cavities for hydrogen storage. From 2027, EWE plans to store hydrogen in the cavern. The energy provider will begin initial construction work in the fall. Above-ground hydrogen storage technology will need to be constructed for the conversion. Large-scale hydrogen storage is intended to improve supply security for hydrogen users in the future. The company plans to continue storing natural gas in the other six caverns on the site for the time being.
Following the test cavern in Rüdersdorf, the Huntorf natural gas storage facility is already the second hydrogen research project of the energy provider. With the cavern in Rüdersdorf near Berlin, the company demonstrated that hydrogen can be safely stored in salt caverns. The construction and operation of hydrogen caverns are technically comparable to natural gas storage facilities, according to the company’s press release.
The house-sized salt cavern in Rüdersdorf has been leached out and filled with hydrogen since October 2023. The company is currently testing the operation of the hydrogen storage at various pressure levels. EWE plans to apply the findings from this project to large-scale natural gas storage facilities, such as those in Huntorf.
High Demand for Hydrogen Storage
The company identified a need for hydrogen storage through a market survey conducted last fall. More than 30 industrial and energy companies participated in the survey. According to the published results, the reported demand significantly exceeds the capacities currently forecasted by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
For EWE, this is a signal to take action, said Hayo Seeba, project developer at EWE. However, the political framework conditions must also be quickly established, and the (re)construction times of the caverns must be considered. According to Seeba, converting an existing natural gas cavern takes about three years, while building a new cavern takes at least six years. Additionally, it must be ensured that the supply to consumers is maintained during the conversion of the energy infrastructure.
In mid-February 2024, the European Commission announced funding approvals for various IPCEI projects. The EWE project “Clean Hydrogen Coastline” also received funding approval. So far, EWE has advanced the project at its own risk: Based on an approved early start of measures, the company has made initial preparations, such as for the conversion of the natural gas cavern in Huntorf.
The information event for interested citizens will take place on June 18 at the Butteldorf community center.
