HyStorage

HyStorage is about investigating the influence of different hydrogen concentrations on porous rock formations and thus testing the suitability and integrity of pore storage facilities for storing hydrogen. At the Bierwang underground gas storage site, natural gas/hydrogen gas mixtures are injected in order to be able to determine the biogeochemical processes in the subsurface. This will allow predictions to be made about the longevity and integrity of the reservoir. The research results and conclusions obtained with this project represent essential information for the operational behaviour of underground gas storage facilities and are to be transferred to the German and European underground storages if possible. A smaller former natural gas reservoir - independent of the existing Bierwang natural gas storage facility - will be used for the test. In several project phases, different natural gas/hydrogen mixtures with 5 per cent, 10 per cent and 20 per cent hydrogen content in the natural gas will be injected into the former natural gas reservoir and then withdrawn again after a three-month standstill period in each case. The first cycle with 5% hydrogen serves as a basic feasibility check of the application, the second ensures comparability with other international industrial projects, and the third is a continuation and preparation for future, higher hydrogen concentrations as well as potential hydrogen peaks caused by concentration fluctuations in the natural gas infrastructure. Following the successful initial phases, the project has been extended by two additional phases to examine both the long-term storage of the hydrogen-natural gas mixture and the impact of pure hydrogen.Extensive investigations, regular measurements of the material and gas composition as well as evaluations and analyses of the data will take place throughout the duration of the project. The planning and implementation of the project is carried out in close coordination with the responsible mining authority.