Germany’s EWE will convert one of its seven natural gas salt caverns in Huntorf, Germany, into a large-scale hydrogen storage facility.
As part of the Clean Hydrogen Coastline initiative, the converted salt cavern is set to begin storing hydrogen in 2027. Neuman & Esser will supply two hydrogen compressors to enable high-pressure injection and withdrawal of the green fuel.
EWE will use the small-scale 500m3 salt cavern storage project in Rüdersdorf as a proof of concept for the facility in Huntorf, building upon the pilot it completed last December. They plan to scale up 1,000 times to develop a full-size commercial site at Huntorf.
“With 37 salt caverns, EWE alone has more than 15% of all German cavern storage facilities that are suitable for storing hydrogen,” claimed Peter Schmidt, Managing Director of EWE Gasspeicher.
However, Schmidt underscored the lack of a regulatory framework for hydrogen storage in the country, especially around investment and bankability. He called for clarity on how such projects will be commercially viable.
“In order to be able to make investment decisions for further hydrogen storage projects, a suitable regulatory framework and thus a bankable financing model are essential for us,” he said.
Backed by the German government and recognised as an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI), the Clean Hydrogen Coastline project has been designed to link production, storage, transport and green hydrogen use in Northern Germany.
EWE plans to operate one of Europe’s largest hydrogen production facilities in Emden, expected to produce 26,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually once completed in 2027.
The company has appointed Drees & Sommer SE to manage the project, which is located approximately 96km from its Huntorf salt cavern storage site.
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