Hydrogen Geological Storage Fire and Explosion
Joint Industry Project
Challenge
Storing hydrogen in salt caverns and porous rock can play a key role in helping deliver the energy transition while meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement. Large-scale hydrogen storage will serve various purposes such as energy security, decarbonizing industrial processes, balancing supply and demand, and maximizing recovery of variable electricity from wind and solar. There are four commercial hydrogen salt caverns and several pilot projects operating globally. As the energy transition accelerates, the number of geological sites storing hydrogen is expected to increase significantly. The underlying question is whether existing standards for natural gas geological storage apply to hydrogen from a safety/major hazard perspective and, if not, how they need to be changed.
The storage of hydrogen in geological storage requires good design, based around safety. DNV has contacted nearly 50 companies and gathered extensive feedback on the top industry challenges. Following studies by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (KEM-28) and German Federal Ministry Economic Affairs (DVGW Roadmap for Standardization of Hydrogen) on development areas, DNV has identified the risk of fire and explosion as a key knowledge gap. Therefore DNV proposes to develop guidelines to further industry understanding and approaches to safety for these topics:
- Subsurface failure consequences
- Surface failure consequences
- Risk mitigation methods
- New and repurposed facilities
- Pipeline connection failures
Objective
DNV would bring together stakeholders on a 2-year JIP to develop a Europe-focused and rationalized safety approach for developing and operating salt caverns and porous rock storage for hydrogen. Instead of starting from scratch, the JIP will review the applicability of existing natural gas storage guidance for hydrogen, focusing on fire and explosion consequences and risk mitigation methods. It will cover onshore and offshore, various well diameters, storage capacities, multiple caverns/wellheads, confinement, congestion, a sensitivity study of uncertainties e.g. immediate vs delayed ignition, overpressure levels and whether numerical models for natural gas need to be adapted to accurately simulate hydrogen.
Approach
The scope would consist of Phase 1 and Phase 1 Extension. Phase 1 would focus on data gathering, assessment of state-of-the-art practices, scenario and threat assessment, identification of uncertainties, consequence impact assessment, and gap analysis of standards and practices. This would be followed by development of risk mitigation methods for new-build and repurposed facilities, evaluation of their effectiveness, ideas for extra requirements for hydrogen storage to address gaps and guideline development. The Phase 1 Extension (subject to additional partners) could include further analysis, potential testing, or other topics as directed by the steering committee.
Project details
The project would aim to kick-off in September 2025, subject to funding. It aims to build confidence that the risks are understood, help demonstration of adherence to SEVESO III Directive/COMAH/OSD regulations and land use planning, facilitate certification and give participants the opportunity to influence best practice. Companies interested in participating are invited to request a formal proposal.