Strategic hydrogen storage for Spain

Hydrogen storage is the solution to address the intermittency of renewable energy. It allows excess energy generated during renewable production peaks to be stored for as long as necessary and used when generation is low, thus ensuring a constant supply.
 
Efficient hydrogen storage is essential to move towards a decarbonised economy that relies on this renewable gas as an alternative to traditional fuels. 

Underground hydrogen storage is one of the safest, most efficient technologies. As is already the case with natural gas, the idea is to use large caverns where large quantities can be stored to supply consumption over long periods of time.   
 

Spain strives to boost green hydrogen production by 2030 and become a European benchmark. The update of the 2023-2030 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (IPNEC) has raised the electrolysis target to 12 GW by 2030 from the 4 GW initially set. This increase in targets is supported by the large number of projects to be developed in our country. 

The country’s optimal conditions for renewable energy, coupled with supportive policies, have made it one of the most competitive regions for green hydrogen production. 

At European level, hydrogen is also seen as a key pillar in achieving the 2050 climate neutrality targets and driving the transition towards a sustainable, decarbonised economy.

The EU has set a target of producing 10 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 and importing a further 10 million tonnes as part of net zero balance targets, as well as installing at least 40 GW of electrolysers by 2030.

Green hydrogen will replace the grey hydrogen currently used in the petrochemical industry as a feedstock. Furthermore, industrial sectors that are hard to electrify need an alternative to meet decarbonisation targets, and green hydrogen is one of the most efficient possibilities. 

Underground hydrogen storage is the most competitive technical option for integrating renewable hydrogen into the energy system. 

Within the possibilities of underground storage, salt caverns are the safest, most flexible and efficient storage option available.

Another one of the added values of storage in salt caverns is the experience and technical knowledge of the energy and gas sector, as these spaces are similar to those currently used to store natural gas.  

This would be the first in Spain, but in Europe there are more than 300 salt caverns in operation as natural gas storage.

Worldwide, there has been a 3-cavity hydrogen storage facility in operation in the UK in Teesside (Yorkshire) since 1972 and three such storage facilities in the USA, in Texas, to support the chemical industry in the event of supply disruptions.

There are also several pilot projects in France and Germany to convert some of the natural gas storage caverns into hydrogen storage.  

Underground hydrogen storage is safe and beneficial for the future energy system.
 
Large volumes can be stored underground and the salt formation has natural sealing properties that ensures that it is watertight. The overground facilities require little space, minimising their footprint.

The developer of this specific project is Enagás, which has more than 50 years’ experience operating and maintaining underground storage facilities. 

The North-1 underground storage facility is part of the Spanish hydrogen backbone. This network includes, in addition to two storage facilities, 2,700 kilometres of hydrogen pipelines that will criss-cross the Iberian Peninsula. Both projects (storage and backbone) have been included in the final European list of PCIs (Projects of Common Interest) in April 2024.    

The project is in the conceptual engineering phase for the compression, purification and leaching facilities required for the construction of the caverns. In parallel, geomechanical studies of the subsoil have been conducted to determine the project’s safety and feasibility during the construction and operation phases of the storage facility.

The information and deployment phase of the Public Participation Plan (PCPP) project starts in July, in line with EU requirements to carry out this process during the initial phase of the PCI project.  

Environmental protection is a top priority at all stages of the project. An initial identification and assessment of the potential environmental impacts at a general level has been conducted and preventive and corrective measures have been defined to minimise them.

Under the foreseen conditions, the most significant impacts will occur during the construction phase, being an event limited in time and without long-term repercussions. 

In any case, the effects will be recoverable once the works are completed, with the restitution and re-greening of the affected land.

The project will be subject to an Environmental Assessment process that will culminate in the Project Environmental Impact Statement, which will establish the environmental requirements to be met throughout the life of the project. 
 
Environmental monitoring will be conducted during the implementation of the project to ensure that the measures are effective and that the established environmental standards are met.