Gasunie is to become partner in H₂CAST, the H₂ storage pilot project in the Etzel caverns in the German state of Lower Saxony. This was announced by STORAG ETZEL and Gasunie. For Gasunie, this participation is a first step towards developing H₂ storage facilities in Germany.

With H₂CAST, which stands for H₂ CAvern Storage Transition, STORAG ETZEL and Gasunie, together with project partners, aim to enable large-scale H₂ storage in the salt caverns near Etzel, Germany.

The first step involves a pilot project in which two of the existing salt caverns will be made suitable for H₂ storage and connected by an above-ground installation. Within the pilot project, Gasunie will be responsible for the above ground facility to connect the two H₂ caverns. The pilot project is expected to be ready in 2026.

The location of the storage caverns in Etzel is strategically located with a perfect connection to the Dutch and German H₂ market, near the future Gasunie H₂ network HyPerLink and the Energy-Hub Port of Wilhelmshaven.

Han Fennema, CEO Gasunie said, "Hydrogen is going to play an important role in the future energy system, especially for making industry more sustainable. For a well-functioning hydrogen market, large-scale hydrogen storage is a crucial component. Gasunie has the ambition to develop salt caverns for hydrogen storage in both the Netherlands and Germany."

STORAG ETZEL is delighted that Gasunie has chosen to join the H₂CAST project in Etzel which already started early 2022.

Boris Richter, Managing Director of STORAG ETZEL said, “The industrial scalability of the underground storage is unique for the H₂CAST pilot. Gasunie will optimally strengthen the project consortium, which is of strategic importance for the Etzel site. The pilot project is a starting point for a future value chain to enable the ramp-up of the international hydrogen market.”