The surface challenges of underground hydrogen storage – pre-feasibility studies at the Otway International Test Centre, Victoria
David Whittam A * , Jai Pandit A , Kwong Soon Chan A , Max Watson A and Matthias Raab AA CO2CRC Limited, PO Box 24121, Melbourne, Vic. 3001, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 63 S473-S477 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22202
Accepted: 23 February 2023 Published: 11 May 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) has the potential to overcome the infrastructure and safety challenges of large-scale hydrogen storage, support long-term supply security and decrease delivery costs through economies of scale. Depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and saline aquifers are likely to be significant contributors to UHS capacity in Australia. The principles of subsurface hydrogen storage in porous reservoir rocks are based on experience from both natural gas and carbon dioxide storage projects. However, as field-scale testing is required to demonstrate and mature the technology, a pre-feasibility study of the potential for an early UHS demonstration at the Otway International Test Centre (OITC) has been undertaken. Pre-feasibility studies have shown that while the characterisation of the subsurface storage reservoir is the most important aspect of the site-selection process, above-ground factors, such as facilities design, the logistics of hydrogen supply and the regulatory environment, significantly affect project design. Existing technologies require only minor adaptation to provide the surface infrastructure for a UHS project, but the logistics of hydrogen supply may be a significant factor in the scope of a demonstration project.
Keywords: depleted gas reservoir, geological storage, hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, hydrogen supply, hydrogen transport, pilot project, regulation, underground hydrogen storage.
David Whittam leads CO2CRC’s UHS activities as Program Manager, Hydrogen. Before joining CO2CRC in 2022, David was employed by the Geological Survey of Victoria, prior to which he worked as a petroleum geologist in Australia and overseas. David holds degrees from the University of Bristol and University College London. |
Dr Jai Kant Pandit has PhD in Chemical Engineering from Monash University and has experience in sustainability, emissions reduction, waste utilisation, hydrogen energy and power generation. Dr Pandit has been with CO2CRC for 8 years, before which he worked for Babcock & Wilcox and Alstom Power. Dr Pandit is currently developing CO2CRC’s direct air capture technology and commercialising a cost-effective, modular and hybrid HyCaps process to capture CO2. |
Kwong Soon (KS) Chan has extensive experience across the energy and resource sector, having worked in energy, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure and start-ups in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. He is currently the Senior Manager (Carbon Capture and Utilisation Program Lead) with CO2CRC Limited. |
Max Watson is the Senior Manager for Technology Development at CO2CRC Ltd. and has over 20 years’ experience in developing industry-relevant, low-emission technologies including carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and more recently hydrogen storage. Max completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide and has worked in academia, industry and R&D management sectors. |
Dr Matthias Raab is the CEO of CO2CRC, a well-respected research organisation globally recognised for innovative carbon capture, utilisation and storage solutions. Passionate about finding innovative solutions to energy, climate and resource challenges, Dr Raab’s 25+ year career has spanned academia, government, industry and the not-for-profit sectors and involved collaborating with international leaders and experts in their fields. |
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