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Diagnostic Tools and Risk Protocols To Accelerate Underground Hydrogen Storage

Project description

Hydrogen-consuming microbial activity in underground storage diagnosis

Hydrogen-consuming microbes pose a challenge to the viability of underground hydrogen storage in Europe. Gaining an understanding of microbial risks and mitigation strategies is crucial. The EU-funded HyDRA project will investigate hydrogen-consuming microbial activity and its interactions with underground storage formations. It aims to develop strategies to mitigate these risks and accelerate the deployment of porous underground hydrogen storage across Europe. Key objectives include establishing standardised sampling protocols and biogeochemical methods, mapping microbial diversity in European storage formations, creating models for site-specific microbial risk assessments, and developing a fast-track site selection tool with a predictive microbial risk index. Additionally, the project will update guidelines for storage site operators to manage microbial risks.

Objective

The overall goal of the HyDRA project is the “Characterisation of hydrogen-consuming microbial activity and interaction with the storage formation to determine guiding principles that mitigate risk and enable fast-tracking of porous media underground storage as part of the European hydrogen ecosystem”. Our goal is achieved through 10 quantifiable key objectives, including: standardized field sampling protocols and bio-geochemical laboratory methods, mapping microbial taxonomic and functional diversity across Europe, deriving models that enhance and upscale laboratory bio-geochemical findings for site-specific microbial risk assessment, delivering a fast-track site selection tool with predictive microbial risk index, updating guidelines to support storage site operators (SSOs) in their site-specific risk identification and management. Targeting the full diversity of geology and subsurface conditions encountered across the different European storage sites, the interdisciplinary HyDRA research partners and associated SSOs will assess microbial risks associated with the storage of hydrogen in porous reservoirs. Across 12 work packages, the HyDRA project will generate new fundamental understanding of microbial risk and mitigation in the context of underground hydrogen storage. With an interdependent workflow across relevant disciplines (microbiology, geosciences, geophysics and -chemistry, porous media modelling, and safety/risk assessment), HyDRA research focuses on the elusive interplay between microbiology, geochemistry, and hydrogen flow during underground hydrogen storage in porous media. Addressing this knowledge gap – across the full spectrum of site- and operational conditions for active and future hydrogen storage sites, amplified by natural hydrogen seeps – will support the development and standardization of site-specific and general guidelines and regulation codes for an accelerated and widespread European underground hydrogen storage deployment.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2024

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN
Net EU contribution
€ 443 498,50
Address
MUSEPLASSEN 1
5020 Bergen
Norway
Region
Norge Vestlandet Vestland
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (8)

Partners (10)