Uniper to proceed further with hydrogen pilot project in Krummhoern

German energy firm Uniper has decided to move ahead with its 250,000 cbm hydrogen storage pilot project in Krummhoern on Germany's west coast after receiving government funding.

PHOTO: Model of Uniper's hydrogen storage pilot in Krummhoern. Uniper

Uniper will build a large-scale hydrogen storage facility in an existing salt cavern in Krummhoern that has been used to store natural gas since 2017. It says the conversion project is a first-of-a-kind and expects it to be commissioned by 2024.

It argues that underground facilities can store larger quantities of gas and hydrogen as compared to those above ground. Also, storing electricity converted to hydrogen can help to balance supply and demand fluctuations for electricity in the future.

The envisioned storage facility would be located in Krummhoern, Lower Saxony and near Wilhelmshaven, where Uniper plans to produce green hydrogen in small quantiities through electrolysis of water with renewable energy. Uniper has also said it intends to import green ammonia, which can act as a hydrogen carrier.

Hydrogen will play a central role in energy transition that has become vital to tackle the climate crisis and reduce dependence on fossil fuels amid the Ukraine war, Lower Saxony's Environment Minister Olaf Lies says.