System Design and Economic Feasibility Study of Large-Scale Hydrogen Storage in Aquifers
Hydrogen 2025
Leo Jansons, Andris Backurs, Laila Zemīte, Namejs Zeltiņš, Aigars Laizāns

This study evaluates the technical, design, and economic feasibility of large-scale hydrogen storage in deep water-bearing geological formations (aquifers), presenting it as a scalable solution for seasonal energy storage within the European Union’s decarbonization framework. A techno-economic model was developed for a 1 BCM facility, integrating geomechanical, microbial, and thermodynamic criteria. The results indicate a recoverable hydrogen fraction of 70–85%, with dissolution and microbial conversion losses limited to below 10% under optimized operational regimes. Geochemical and microbiological modelling demonstrated that sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacterial activity can be reduced by 80–90% through controlled salinity and pH management. The proposed design, incorporating high-permeability sandstone reservoirs (100–300 mD), hydrogen-resistant materials, and fibre-optic monitoring ensures stable containment at 60–100 bar pressure and enables multi-cycle operation with minimal leakage (<0.05% per year). Economically, the baseline Levelized Cost of Hydrogen Storage (LCOHS) for aquifers was found to be ~0.29 EUR/kWh, with potential reductions to ~0.18 EUR/kWh through optimized drilling, modularized compression systems, and microbial mitigation. The lifecycle carbon footprint (0.20–0.36 kg CO2-eq/kg H2) is competitive with other geological storage methods, while offering superior scalability and strategic flexibility.


Keywords
hydrogen storage; aquifer; geological containment; economic feasibility; SWOT analysis; economic evaluation
DOI
10.3390/hydrogen6040109
Hyperlink
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4141/6/4/109

Jansons, L., Backurs, A., Zemīte, L., Zeltiņš, N., Laizāns, A. System Design and Economic Feasibility Study of Large-Scale Hydrogen Storage in Aquifers. Hydrogen, 2025, Vol. 6, No. 4, Article number 109. e-ISSN 2673-4141. Available from: doi:10.3390/hydrogen6040109

Publication language
English (en)
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