Underground Sun Storage - Chemical storage of renewable energy in porous subsurface reservoirs with exemplary testbed
Abstract
The development of opportunities for the intelligent long-term storage of renewable energy is one of the still missing pieces in the current picture of renewable energy strategies. One possible approach could be the Power-To-Gas strategy with electrical transformation of water to gaseous hydrogen via electrolysis. Obtained hydrogen could then be stored in the already available natural gas infrastructure network especially in existing underground gas storages. This flagship project comprises tasks such as simulation and laboratory tests, an industrial-scale demonstration trial as well as an associated life cycle assessment. One key aspect for the introduction of hydrogen in natural gas storage sites is the potential transformation of hydrogen by reservoir dwelling microorganisms. For simulating microbial growth in an underground storage environment, bioreactors will be operated at reservoir conditions (46°C, 47 bar). The bioreactors are loaded with drilling cores and formation water, both obtained from a depth of about 1.200 m, and then subsequently exposed to different gas mixtures (Methane, Hydrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfuric components). Biogeochemical transformation processes of gaseous, liquid and solid contents will be investigated. Based on findings, an operative window for hydrogen exposed reservoirs will be defined, which aims to minimize the transformation of hydrogen and the development of hydrogen sulfide. The outcomes and perceptions of these investigations will be employed to set up the subsequent in situ demonstration trial in the underground reservoir.
Hydrogen storage Microbiology of reservoirs
Publikationen
Project staff
Andreas Paul Loibner
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Andreas Paul Loibner
andreas.loibner@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-97470
BOKU Project Leader
01.05.2013 - 30.06.2017
Kerstin Brandstätter-Scherr
Priv.-Doz. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Kerstin Brandstätter-Scherr
Project Staff
01.05.2013 - 30.06.2017
BOKU partners
External partners
Montanuniversität Leoben
none
partner
Rohöl-Aufsuchungs Aktiengesellschaft
none
coordinator
Axiom angewandte Prozeßtechnik Ges.m.b.H.
none
partner
Verbund AG
none
partner
Energieinstitut an der Johannes Kepler Universität Linz
none
partner