(Bierwang) – A consortium led by the energy company Uniper SE is testing the storage of hydrogen in a former natural gas deposit in Bierwang, Bavaria. One of the largest German natural gas storage facilities with a capacity of one billion cubic meters is also located there.
Drilling site “BW B6” at the Bierwang storage site. © Uniper Energy Storage GmbH
The “HyStorage” research project aims to investigate the influence of hydrogen on porous rock formations to determine their suitability for storage, the company explained. The Uniper subsidiary Uniper Energy Storage GmbH built a special gas technology system for the test. It is planned to store different methane-hydrogen gas mixtures with five percent, ten percent and 25 percent hydrogen content in the natural gas in three operating phases starting in September and to withdraw them again after three months.
Scientific analysis next year
Unnamed scientific advisors will analyze and evaluate the data collected. Uniper expects “reliable technical assessments for the storage of hydrogen in pore storage” from 2024. No further details were given.
The “HyStorage” project takes place independently of the existing large-scale natural gas storage facility in Bierwang. Uniper Energy Storage GmbH is the consortium leader, operating manager and responsible for the experiment under mining law. Also involved are the transmission system operator Open Grid Europe GmbH (OGE), the Austrian storage company RAG Austria AG, the federally owned Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE) and the Slovakian storage company NAFTA AS
Photos
Bierwang storage site: The HyStorage research project is carried out here with different methane-hydrogen gas mixtures. © Uniper Energy Storage GmbH
