Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
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| Reference Number | NIA_WWU_02_67 | |
| Title | Hydrogen Storage in Aquifers | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Hydrogen and Fuel Cells(Hydrogen, Hydrogen storage) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Applied Research and Development 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 50%; ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences) 50%; |
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| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Project Contact Wales and West Utilities |
|
| Award Type | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Funding Source | Ofgem | |
| Start Date | 01 December 2024 | |
| End Date | 31 May 2025 | |
| Duration | ENA months | |
| Total Grant Value | £306,723 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Energy | |
| Region | Wales | |
| Programme | Network Innovation Allowance | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Project Contact , Wales and West Utilities |
| Other Investigator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Network (NGN) North East |
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| Industrial Collaborator | Project Contact , Northern Gas Networks |
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| Web Site | https://smarter.energynetworks.org/projects/NIA_WWU_02_67 |
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| Objectives | The development of large-scale storage of hydrogen is widely accepted to be a critical element of the transition to a future net zero energy system. Most focus at present is on the development of depleted gas fields as hydrogen stores. This project will advance the alternative of development of aquifer structures for hydrogen storage. As a lower cost option, this clearly offers a lower cost integrated energy system to the benefit of all system participants. Aquifers are also significantly more accessible than depleted gas fields, with some regions not having access close to them e.g. South Wales or the Southwest of England. The benefits to consumers would arise from the development and use of lower-cost bulk hydrogen storage options than currently under consideration.The project is comprised of ten work packages. The roles of BGS (British Geological Survey) and CUIEEF (Cambridge University Insitute of Energy and Environmental Flows) fall within defined technical remits, and Progressives role will be to ensure that these subcontractors can deliver their objectives, while undertaking their own technical work.BGS will lead on the first three work packages, wherein they will map priority closures of aquifers and develop structure maps of shortlisted structures and develop the basis for reservoir modelling. A review of data on reservoir materials and properties will be undertaken to inform the development of the models. The reservoir models will be developed in an appropriate software package in order to assess flow rates and pressure behaviours of the reservoirs. Concurrently, Progressive will determine the required injection and production rates for aquifer storage and thereby assess the numbers of wells and geological storage structures required to meet storage needs.CUIEEF will undertake laboratory studies to determine the effect of reservoir heterogeneity on storage performance. Progressive will develop an outline of storage facilities for the aquifer structures, including pipeline sizing and routing, injection and production facilities, compression requirements, and high-level indicative costing of such facilities.BGS will then undertake reservoir modelling to develop understanding of reservoir pressures behaviour in response to flow rates required, applying assessed injection and production rates to the models supplied by Progressive.Progressive will engage with industrial and regulatory stakeholders, such as the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to inform them of the option for aquifer storage of hydrogen. They will also develop academic papers based on the results of the project and submit them for publication. Project findings will be presented at appropriate industry conferences, and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) will be engaged to inform them of the option for aquifer storage of hydrogen.It is currently not clear how the storage of hydrogen (in either aquifers or depleted gas fields) will be supported by DESNZ business models which are being developed and implemented to support net zero activities across the value chain. As such, Progressives penultimate work package will see them undertake a review of existing business models on gas storage (natural gas, carbon dioxide, and more) and assess these models for features and benefits, then consider and recommend business models for aquifer storage of hydrogen; Progressive will share these recommendations with DESNZ as part of the project. Progressives final work package will see them produce a report encompassing the projects findings, as well as plans for further work on a feasibility study to address consenting, permitting, acreage acquisition, lobbying and securing of financial support, all in turn leading to FEED and FID. This will form the basis of a future demonstration project, or an application into a SIF Beta phase.Data Quality and Measurement Quality StatementGeneralThe project as a whole will be undertaken under the governance of Progressive Energys Quality Policy.IP rights are governed by the contractual relationships between Progressive Energy and its subcontractors BGS and the University of Cambridge Institute of Energy and Environmental Flows.No data controlled under GDPR is involved in the project.Progressive-led WPs (WP4,6,8,9,10)Progressive will be developing new data and analyses relating to required flow rates into and out of storage, scoping of facilities for hydrogen storage and available business models. Where new data and analyses arise through Progressive-led work, source data and analysis methods will be documented, allowing for third party review and providing a secure foundation for further work. Progressive Energy has developed a reputation over more than 20 years of delivering high quality, robust and supportable data and analysis.BGS-led WPs (WP1,2,3,7)BGS will be reviewing existing data which it holds and for which it is responsible. This data will be generated, maintained and analysed under its own quality policies. BGS has operated in this manner for many decades and is the leading custodian of subsurface data for the UK.University of Cambridge Institute of Energy and Environmental Flows -led WP (WP5) UoCIEEF will be undertaking new experiments which will generate new findings and data. These experiments will be documented in detail, to allow other researchers to reproduce results and extend their findings. The data will be generated, maintained and analysed under its own quality policies. The University of Cambridge has an enviable reputation for high quality research and publication.The project is rated low in the common assessment framework detailed in the ENIP document after assessing the total project value, the progression through the TRL levels, the number of project delivery partners and the high level of data assumptions. No additional peer review is required for this project. WP1 Mapping of priority closuresThe main objective of this work package is to develop structure maps of shortlisted structures and to develop a basis for reservoir modelling. The key deliverables are:Mapping of priority closuresValidation of selected structuresDevelopment of static/property models for selected closures for WP3WP2 Detailed reservoir assessments on specified structuresThe main objective of this work package is to review data on reservoir materials and properties to inform the development of reservoir models. The key deliverables are:Review of BGS materials databases to develop detailed catalogue of borehole dataPetrophysical analysis of logs to reservoir properties for modellingPetrographic descriptions of up to 4 reservoir samplesWP3 Reservoir model development, petrographic description, based on detailed data review on selected structuresThe main objective of this work package is to develop reservoir models in an appropriate software package for assessment of flow rate and reservoir pressure behaviour in WP7. The key deliverables are:Develop reservoir model East Irish Sea structure modelWP4 Assessment of required injection and production ratesThe main objective of this work package is to determine the required injection and production rates for aquifer storage, and thereby assess the number of wells and geostorage structures required to meet storage needs. The key deliverables are:Modelling of gas storage requirements (hourly, daily, seasonal) and interactions with storage options (linepack, salt cavern, geostorage)Assessment of required aggregate injection and production rates into/out of storageAssessment of realistic numbers of wells/geostorage structures required and per-well injection/production rates requiredWP5 Laboratory studies on reservoir heterogeneity and other factorsThe main objective of this work package is to determine the effect of reservoir heterogeneity on storage performance. The key deliverables are:Lab studies on reservoir heterogeneity, addressing:Reservoir layeringBaffles in porous reservoir (impermeable formations/lenses)Potential for the use of inert cushion gasWell placement and gas coningWP6 Scoping facilities storage sitesThe main objective of this work package is to develop an outline of facilities and pipeline sizing and outing. The key deliverables are:An outline of storage facilities for structures, including:Pipeline sizing and outline routing to preferred structuresAssessment of injection/production facilities and compression requirementsHigh-level indicative costing of storage facilitiesWP7 Reservoir modelling to assess pressure behaviour and flow ratesThe main objective of this work package is to undertake reservoir modelling to develop an understanding of reservoir pressures behaviour in response to the flow rates required. The key deliverables are:Application of assessed injection and production rates to reservoir models from WP4Run the reservoir models to assess pressure behaviour and flow rates in modelsIteration of modelling results to find optimal well numbersWP8 Engagement with stakeholders, particularly the NTSAThe main objective of this work package is to engage with regulators and other stakeholders. The key deliverables are:To engage with the NTSA to inform them of the option for aquifer storage of hydrogenTo develop academic papers based on results and submit these for publicationTo present project findings at appropriate industry fora, conferences, etc.To engage with DESNZ to inform them of the option for aquifer storage of hydrogenWP9 Business model reviewThe main objective of this work package is to review business models and engage DESNZ for aquifer storage of hydrogen. The key deliverables are:A review of relevant business models covering gas storage (natural gas, CO2 and other)An assessment of business model features and benefitsConsideration and recommendation of business models for hydrogen storage in geological structuresEngagement with DESNZ to share recommendations on business modelsWP10 Project managementThe main objective of this work package is to ensure that project participants deliver the agreed deliverables. The work package will be ongoing throughout the project.The development of large-scale storage of hydrogen is widely-accepted to be a critical element of the transition to the future net zero energy system. Most focus at present is on the development of depleted gas fields as hydrogen stores. The earlier work found that aquifer storage of hydrogen offered significant cost advantages over depleted gas field storage. This study will advance these findings with specific reference to a number of potential storage sites which could be developed and used by WWU on behalf of its customers. As a lower cost option than that of depleted gas field storage, the project clearly offers benefits to consumers. For WWU and its customers, aquifers are significantly more accessible than depleted gas fields, none of which are close to South Wales or the Southwest of England. The benefits to consumers would arise from the development and use of lower cost bulk hydrogen storage options than currently under consideration. The objective of this project is to extend the earlier concept work undertaken for the Hydrogen Storage in Aquifers SIF Round 3 Discovery (SIF_WWU_3_1) project into a pre-feasibility study relating to a small number of specific structures. This pre-feasibility study will address key questions to enable further development into feasibility studies to address consenting, permitting, acreage acquisition, lobbying and securing of financial support, which if successful and with additional funding, would lead to Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Final Investment Decision (FID) projects. As part of this project, we have 8 key objectives that are aligned to their retrospective work packages detailed within the scope, these are:Develop structure maps of shortlisted structures and develop basis for reservoir modellingReview of data on reservoir materials and properties to inform development of reservoir modelsDevelop reservoir models in appropriate software package for assessment of flow rate and reservoir pressure behaviour (in WP7)Determine required injection and production rates for aquifer storage, and thereby assess numbers of wells and geological storage structures required to meet storage needsLaboratory studies to determine effect of reservoir heterogeneity on storage performanceDevelop outline of facilities and pipeline sizing and routingUndertake reservoir modelling to develop understanding of reservoir pressures behaviour in response to flow rates requiredEngage with DESNZ, Ofgem and other key stakeholders | |
| Abstract | The development of large-scale storage of hydrogen is widely accepted to be a critical element of the transition to a future net zero energy system. Most focus at present is on the development of depleted gas fields as hydrogen stores. This project will advance the alternative of development of aquifer structures for hydrogen storage. As a lower cost option, this clearly offers a lower cost integrated energy system to the benefit of all system participants. Aquifers are also significantly more accessible than depleted gas fields, with some regions not having access close to them: e.g. South Wales or the Southwest of England.The objective of this project is to extend the earlier concept work undertaken for the Hydrogen Storage in Aquifers SIF Round 3 Discovery (SIF_WWU_3_1) project into a pre-feasibility study relating to a small number of specific structures. | |
| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 09/04/25 | |
