Assessment of the potential for underground hydrogen storage in salt domes

Abstract

The study concerns the critical issue of large-scale hydrogen storage in salt domes. The article aims to present the methodology for the hydrogen storage potential assessment for salt domes. The method considers the size of storage caverns, their depth, the influence of convergence, and the geological structure of the selected salt domes. Statistical analysis of data from the underground cavern storage facility in the Mogilno salt dome allows determining the probability of constructing a salt cavern of a specific volume and depth in the selected salt domes. Estimates based on the developed methodology indicate that the average hydrogen storage potential for the analyzed salt domes ranges from 125.7 TWht after the first filling to 83.8 TWht after 30 years of operation. The maximum storage potential ranges from 178 to 155 TWht, respectively. In the case of the largest analyzed salt dome, where one may construct salt caverns at a depth that ensures moderate convergence, the storage potential amounts to 34.3 TWht after first filling. The presented methodology is the next phase of the research, which refines the previous estimates, allowing for more accurate forecasts of rock salt deposit capacity in terms of hydrogen storage. The presented problems are of interest to countries considering large-scale hydrogen storage, geological survey organizations, companies producing electricity from renewables, and petrochemical companies considering underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns.