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Underground Hydrogen Storage: Transforming Subsurface Science into Sustainable Energy Solutions

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Listed:
  • Kwamena Opoku Duartey

    (Petroleum Recovery and Research Center, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
    Petroleum and Natural Gas Department, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA)

  • William Ampomah

    (Petroleum Recovery and Research Center, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA
    Petroleum and Natural Gas Department, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA)

  • Hamid Rahnema

    (Petroleum and Natural Gas Department, New Mexico Tech, Socorro, NM 87801, USA)

  • Mohamed Mehana

    (Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87544, USA)

Abstract

As the global economy moves toward net-zero carbon emissions, large-scale energy storage becomes essential to tackle the seasonal nature of renewable sources. Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) offers a feasible solution by allowing surplus renewable energy to be transformed into hydrogen and stored in deep geological formations such as aquifers, salt caverns, or depleted reservoirs, making it available for use on demand. This study thoroughly evaluates UHS concepts, procedures, and challenges. This paper analyzes the most recent breakthroughs in UHS technology and identifies special conditions needed for its successful application, including site selection guidelines, technical and geological factors, and the significance of storage characteristics. The integrity of wells and caprock, which is important for safe and efficient storage, can be affected by the operating dynamics of the hydrogen cycle, notably the fluctuations in pressure and stress within storage formations. To evaluate its potential for broader adoption, we also examined economic elements such as cost-effectiveness and the technical practicality of large-scale storage. We also reviewed current UHS efforts and identified key knowledge gaps, primarily in the areas of hydrogen–rock interactions, geochemistry, gas migration control, microbial activities, and geomechanical stability. Resolving these technological challenges, regulatory frameworks, and environmental sustainability are essential to UHS’s long-term and extensive integration into the energy industry. This article provides a roadmap for UHS research and development, emphasizing the need for further research to fully realize the technology’s promise as a pillar of the hydrogen economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwamena Opoku Duartey & William Ampomah & Hamid Rahnema & Mohamed Mehana, 2025. "Underground Hydrogen Storage: Transforming Subsurface Science into Sustainable Energy Solutions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-32, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:748-:d:1584959
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Zenon Ziobrowski & Adam Rotkegel, 2024. "Assessment of Hydrogen Energy Industry Chain Based on Hydrogen Production Methods, Storage, and Utilization," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Shazad, Atif & Uzair, Muhammad & Tufail, Muhammad, 2024. "Impact of blending of phase change material for performance enhancement of solar energy storage," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    3. Barbara Uliasz-Misiak & Jacek Misiak, 2024. "Underground Gas Storage in Saline Aquifers: Geological Aspects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-23, March.
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