Funding awarded for study on hydrogen storage potential in the East Midlands
A new study has been awarded funding to explore the underground hydrogen storage potential in the East Midlands.
19/08/2024 By BGS Press
East Midlands Storage (EMstor), a consortium led by Cadent and partnered with BGS, Star Energy Group, Net Zero Strategy and the University of Edinburgh, has been awarded discovery funding by Ofgem’s Strategic Innovation Fund to undertake a new study to evaluate geological storage potential in the East Midlands.
The EMstor study is the first of its kind in the region. It will undertake a feasibility assessment of the East Midlands’ geology to evaluate its potential to host storage technologies, allowing expansion of Cadent’s proposed 100 per cent hydrogen pipeline.
The East Midlands has numerous depleted oil reservoirs, which may have potential to store hydrogen. The study will characterise the potential geological reservoir to establish if it is suitable for hydrogen storage at scale in the local area.
It’s such exciting news that this funding bid for our EMstor study has been a success. This evaluation could potentially lay the foundations for a hydrogen storage demonstration project in the area through subsequent funding rounds, which could be game changing for the hydrogen economy in the region and will enable a more rapid decarbonisation of industry and power generators that want to switch to hydrogen. Consideration of using disused oil reservoirs for storing hydrogen is a new frontier for the industry and could have far-reaching benefits if it’s shown to be possible through this work.
Sally Brewis, head of regional development at Cadent.
The natural geology of the East Midlands will play an important role in supporting the use of hydrogen in the region. Storing hydrogen gives flexibility to the energy system, allowing excess hydrogen to be stored for use during periods when demand exceeds supply. In this project, BGS will build on its extensive laboratory and mapping programmes to help identify areas of the underground geology that may represent future exploration targets for hydrogen storage in bedrock.
Edward Hough, research lead in underground energy storage at BGS.
Cadent
Cadent is the UK’s largest gas distribution network with a 200-year legacy. We are in a unique position to build on strong foundations whilst encouraging the curiosity to think differently and the courage to embrace change. Day to day we continue to operate, maintain and innovate the UK’s largest gas network, transporting gas safely and protecting people in an emergency. Our skilled engineers and specialists remain committed to the communities we serve, working day and night to ensure gas reaches 11 million homes from Cumbria to north London and the Welsh borders to East Anglia, to keep your energy flowing.
Future of Gas
Here at Cadent we support the Government’s plans to reach net zero by 2050. That means we’re backing low-carbon alternatives to natural gas for the future. We know people love the controllability of gas and, with our network already in place, it makes sense to switch to the lower-carbon alternative offered by both biomethane and hydrogen, which we believe can keep homes and businesses warm for generations to come.
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