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Hydrogen storage in saline aquifers: Opportunities and challenges

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  • Jafari Raad, Seyed Mostafa
  • Leonenko, Yuri
  • Hassanzadeh, Hassan

Abstract

Hydrogen (H2) is a vital component of future decarbonized and sustainable energy systems. As an energy carrier, hydrogen can play a significant role in the security, affordability, and decarbonization of energy systems. Aquifers are the second-most economically-attractive option for geological hydrogen storage after depleted oil and gas reservoirs. For a successful storage project, a reasonably-high recovery of stored hydrogen is projected. Aquifers represent the most environmentally-friendly type of underground storage and are sometimes the only accessible geological formations for hydrogen storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Jafari Raad, Seyed Mostafa & Leonenko, Yuri & Hassanzadeh, Hassan, 2022. "Hydrogen storage in saline aquifers: Opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:168:y:2022:i:c:s1364032122007286
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2022.112846
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    5. Wang, Kai & Zhou, Yawen & Zhao, Wei & Fan, Long & Liu, Shimin, 2026. "Hydrogen storage in subsurface porous media: Mechanisms, challenges, and safety," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PC).
    6. Mao, Shaowen & Chen, Bailian & Malki, Mohamed & Chen, Fangxuan & Morales, Misael & Ma, Zhiwei & Mehana, Mohamed, 2024. "Efficient prediction of hydrogen storage performance in depleted gas reservoirs using machine learning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 361(C).
    7. Zheng, Long & Jing, Zefeng & Feng, Chenchen & Wang, Lichao & Zhou, Yujuan & Qiao, Mingzheng & Liu, Zhen, 2026. "Underground hydrogen storage (UHS): Comparative analysis of key performance metrics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PD).
    8. Jahanbakhsh, Amir & Louis Potapov-Crighton, Alexander & Mosallanezhad, Abdolali & Tohidi Kaloorazi, Nina & Maroto-Valer, M. Mercedes, 2024. "Underground hydrogen storage: A UK perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    9. Davoodi, Shadfar & Al-Shargabi, Mohammed & Wood, David A. & Longe, Promise O. & Mehrad, Mohammad & Rukavishnikov, Valeriy S., 2025. "Underground hydrogen storage: A review of technological developments, challenges, and opportunities," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    10. Du, Zhengyang & Dai, Zhenxue & Yang, Zhijie & Zhan, Chuanjun & Chen, Wei & Cao, Mingxu & Thanh, Hung Vo & Soltanian, Mohamad Reza, 2024. "Exploring hydrogen geologic storage in China for future energy: Opportunities and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    11. Khandoozi, Sabber & Li, Pei & Ershadnia, Reza & Dai, Zhenxue & Zhang, Zhien & Stauffer, Philip H. & Mehana, Mohamed & Cole, David R. & Soltanian, Mohamad Reza, 2025. "An integrated approach for optimizing geological hydrogen storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 381(C).
    12. Abdelghany, Muhammad Bakr & Shafiqurrahman, Atawulrahman & Al-Durra, Ahmed & Mohamed, Moataz & Hu, Jiefeng & Vaccaro, Alfredo & Gao, Fei & El Moursi, Mohamed Shawky, 2026. "Hydrogen energy systems for decarbonizing smart cities and industrial applications: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 226(PD).
    13. Wang, Heng & Xin, Yuchen & Kou, Zuhao & He, Chunyu & Li, Yunfei & Wang, Tongtong, 2024. "Unveil the role of engineering parameters on hydrogen recovery in deep saline aquifer, Rock Springs Uplift, Wyoming," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    14. Zihao Shi & Jiayu Qin & Nengxiong Xu & Yan Qin & Bin Zhang & Shuangxi Feng & Liuping Chen & Hao Wang, 2025. "Coupled Effects of Reservoir Curvature, Thickness, and Well Configuration on Hydrogen Storage Efficiency in Saline Aquifers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-21, September.

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