IDAEA’s research on microbial impact in Underground Hydrogen Storage contributes to a new EU project

• The EU-funded HyDRA project (€3 million) aims to develop risk protocols and scientific guidelines for large-scale hydrogen storage in Europe

 

• IDAEA will investigate how microbial interactions affect hydrogen storage to ensure safe implementation in geological formations

The Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC) is participating in the newly launched EU-funded HyDRA project (Diagnostic Tools and Risk Protocols to Accelerate Underground Hydrogen Storage). This ambitious initiative, supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership with a €3 million grant, aims to enhance the understanding and implementation of underground hydrogen storage across Europe.

Officially launched on 1 January 2025, HyDRA gathers together eight leading research institutions and one enterprise across six countries: BGR, GNS Science, IDAEA-CSIC, ISO, KIT, TUC, UEDIN, UiB, and UNINA. These institutions are collaboratively addressing the pressing need for large-scale hydrogen storage solutions to support Europe’s transition to a low-carbon energy future.

In the future, electricity will be predominantly generated from wind and solar energy. However, these renewable sources are highly variable, with fluctuations occurring daily and seasonally, and peaks in production may not align with peaks in demand.

“To address this challenge, surplus electricity can be used during consumption peaks to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen, which can later be converted back into electricity. However, large storage volumes are required, which is why underground storage, particularly in depleted gas and oil reservoirs, presents a viable solution”, explains IDAEA researcher Josep Mª Soler, principal investigator of the IDAEA-CSIC team in the HyDRA project.

Enabling large-scale hydrogen storage in Europe

To meet the EU’s climate targets, diversify the energy market, and ensure a reliable energy supply, expanding hydrogen infrastructure is crucial. Large-scale storage solutions are needed, as current facilities cannot handle the anticipated increase in hydrogen availability. Storing hydrogen underground in naturally occurring sealed formations, such as sedimentary basins, presents a significant opportunity for Europe. These formations are robust, have large storage capacities, are cost-effective, and can be easily integrated into existing systems. However, critical knowledge gaps remain, particularly regarding how microbial processes might influence underground storage. The HyDRA project aims to address these gaps by developing scientific protocols and regulatory frameworks to ensure hydrogen can be stored safely and efficiently.

 

IDAEA contribution

As part of the HyDRA project, IDAEA participates in the study on microbial influences on underground hydrogen storage. These insights will contribute to developing predictive models for large-scale storage sites, ensuring safety and efficiency in hydrogen storage operations.

“We will conduct laboratory experiments to assess how microbial activity affects rock properties, groundwater, and hydrogen stability in storage formations”, says Josep Mª Soler, leading the IDAEA-CSIC team in the project.

At a higher level, HyDRA’s key objectives include:

1. Innovative Research: Investigate hydrogen-consuming microbial activity and its interaction with storage formations to establish risk mitigation strategies.
2. Methodology Development: Enhance understanding of bio-geochemical processes affecting hydrogen storage in porous media.
3. Standardization and Regulation: Provide science-based recommendations to support the development of ISO standards and regulatory codes for underground hydrogen storage.

 

A comprehensive, Europe-wide approach

HyDRA is collaborating with a network of Storage Site Operators (SSOs) to ensure broad geographic coverage and minimize duplication of research efforts. The project includes over 20 sedimentary basins across Europe, representing a range of geological conditions, pressures, temperatures, and depths.

Additionally, HyDRA will incorporate bio-geochemical sampling of natural hydrogen seeps and accumulations to analyze microbial communities in hydrogen-rich environments. This data will be instrumental in shaping monitoring and remediation technologies for safe and efficient underground hydrogen storage deployment.

For more information about the HyDRA project, visit www.hydrahydrogen.eu or contact contacthydra@uib.no.

 

The project is supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and its members. Co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101192337 — HyDRA. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.