Expanding the Hydrogen Horizon: New Storage Facility in Hamburg Metropolitan Region
Key Ideas
- Storengy Deutschland plans to build underground caverns in Hersfeld to store up to 15,000 tonnes of hydrogen, expanding on natural gas storage.
- The project aims to establish Hersfeld as a hydrogen hub by converting existing caverns for H2 storage, meeting regional industrial demand.
- The storage facility's strategic location in the EU Hydrogen Backbone network will enhance connections to European transport networks, facilitating energy transition.
- The EU recognizes the SaltHy project as vital for developing a green hydrogen sector, playing a significant role in Europe's transition to sustainable energy.
Storengy Deutschland has unveiled plans to construct new underground caverns in Hersfeld in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region to store up to 15,000 tonnes of hydrogen as part of the 'SaltHy' project, set to start operations in 2030. These caverns, each capable of holding about 7,500 tonnes of hydrogen, will cater to the regional demand, with two salt caverns repurposed from natural gas storage. This initiative positions the Stade region as a hydrogen hub, with ongoing projects in the hydrogen value chain. Ute Kück, Mayor of Harsefeld, highlights the importance of hydrogen storage in connecting various elements of the hydrogen economy, including production, transport networks, and consumption centers. The facility's central location in the EU Hydrogen Backbone network, scheduled for operation in 2028, will link it to the European transport network, supporting the region's energy goals. The EU's recognition of the SaltHy project as crucial for green hydrogen development underscores its significance in Europe's energy transition towards sustainability.