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H2CAST Etzel

Making energy transition work.

About the project

The H2CAST Etzel project is intended to demonstrate the feasibility of large-volume underground storage of hydrogen and to prove the suitability of the salt caverns in Etzel for hydrogen storage. Operational hydrogen storage operations will be tested and serve to build a hydrogen service industry. H2CAST stands for H2 CAvern Storage Transition, i.e. the conversion of existing caverns and facilities in Etzel for the future necessary storage of hydrogen as a building block for a future energy system.
 

More on the project

Here you will find the latest news and press releases about the H2CAST ETZEL project as well as our media centre with press material (photos and graphics) for download.

 

To the media centre

 

News

"Jever-Berdum cavern field project of the future": STORAG ETZEL supports the energy turnaround

"Jever-Berdum cavern field project of the future": STORAG ETZEL supports the energy turnaround

[Article in german] STORAG ETZEL submitted a mining licence application for securing the free mineral resources "potash and rock salts" for the Jever-Berdum salt dome to the mining authority.

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JadeWeserPort WilhelmshavenWilhelmshaven energy hub attracts industry

Wilhelmshaven energy hub attracts industry

(energate) Wilhelmshaven wants to become more than just a transhipment point for LNG, ammonia, hydrogen and CO2. "Apart from quite a lot of work, little has happened in our town, with regard to jobs and trade tax," criticised Lord Mayor Carsten Feist at a press event organised by the Initiative Zukunft Gas.

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Northwest prepares for hydrogen future

Northwest prepares for hydrogen future

-dpa- [Article in german] Wasserstoff ist der Energieträger der Zukunft - und beschäftigt den Nordwesten. Bremen soll 2025 an ein entsprechendes Transportnetz angeschlossen werden. Und in Ostfriesland gehen Unternehmen der Frage nach, wie sich das Gas speichern lässt.

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Infobox Events on 20.04.23 I Energy Logistics in the Northwest - Our Future: Oil, Gas AND Hydrogen!

Infobox Events on 20.04.23 I Energy Logistics in the Northwest - Our Future: Oil, Gas AND Hydrogen!

On 20 April 2023, STORAG ETZEL GmbH once again invites you to an event on the topic of "Energy Logistics in the Northwest" as part of the nationwide "Logistics Day" in the info box of the cavern info centre at the Etzel site. As part of a multimedia presentation, interested visitors can learn more about the background to the construction of caverns in Etzel. Furthermore, the energy logistics, i.e. storing and retrieving of energy sources, will be explained. This will be followed by a tour of the…

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H2CAST leak test in Etzel, shot after rainSuccessful completion of first leak test with hydrogen at cavern in Etzel

Successful completion of first leak test with hydrogen at cavern in Etzel

- Milestone reached for conversion of existing caverns for hydrogen use

- Tightness of cavern with hydrogen proven

- "This is the kick-off for practical application research at the Etzel cavern storage facility," says project manager Carsten Reekers, STORAG ETZEL: "We have gained positive insights into the use of bore hole equipment with high-pressure hydrogen and the handling of hydrogen in the cavern field for future large-volume storage!"

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"We want to make our contribution to a high-performance hydrogen network" - Interview with Hans Jonk, Gasunie Energy Development (H2CAST partner)

"We want to make our contribution to a high-performance hydrogen network" - Interview with Hans Jonk, Gasunie Energy Development (H2CAST partner)

Hanover (energate) - In January, Gasunie gave the go-ahead for the 'HyPerLink' hydrogen project. The transmission system operator is converting the first lines from the existing natural gas grid between Bremen and Hamburg to hydrogen (energate reported). The newly founded Gasunie Energy Development GmbH is responsible for the project. energate spoke to managing director Hans Jonk about the company's plans.

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PipelineFuture seeks empty pipe

Future seeks empty pipe

Germany's industry is converting to green hydrogen. Ships are expected to deliver the first quantities in 2025. But for the gas to reach its destination, terminals, storage facilities and pipelines are needed. How quickly can these be built?

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Visit of the Norwegian Ambassador to STORAG ETZEL on H2CAST pilot project and regional development

Visit of the Norwegian Ambassador to STORAG ETZEL on H2CAST pilot project and regional development

Yesterday we had the honour of welcoming His Excellency, the Norwegian Ambassador SE Torgeir Larsen, to STORAG ETZEL as part of his two-day visit to the region!

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Gasunie becomes H2CAST partnerGasunie and STORAG ETZEL team up in hydrogen storage in Germany

Gasunie and STORAG ETZEL team up in hydrogen storage in Germany

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

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First preparatory leak test and material testsFirst preparatory leak test and material tests

First preparatory leak test and material tests

Another milestone reached in the research project: First preparatory leak test and material tests with hydrogen at cavern in Etzel.

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50 years of supply security through oil and gas storage in Etzel - Our future: oil, gas AND hydrogen!

50 years of supply security through oil and gas storage in Etzel - Our future: oil, gas AND hydrogen!

The Etzel cavern facility is located in the middle of the North German energy hub about 20 kilometres southwest of Wilhelmshaven, with a connection to Germany's only deep-water port located there.

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Map pipeline route from Etzel to WilhelmshavenTransmission operator Gasunie and OGE together with STORAG ETZEL are investigating the further development of the existing pipeline route from Etzel to Wilhelmshaven for gas transport in the "SEAL" project

Transmission operator Gasunie and OGE together with STORAG ETZEL are investigating the further development of the existing pipeline route from Etzel to Wilhelmshaven for gas transport in the "SEAL" project

Due to the current geopolitical situation, it is the declared goal of the German government to make Germany independent of Russian energy imports as quickly as possible.

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Socon measurement hydrogen cavernReport from project partner SOCON: First measurements in hydrogen successfully carried out

Report from project partner SOCON: First measurements in hydrogen successfully carried out

In the hydrogen caverns existing worldwide (Great Britain and USA), direct measurements in hydrogen have never been carried out so far.

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Anniversary celebration storag etzel, aerial viewHydrogen Days Northwest make you want more

Hydrogen Days Northwest make you want more

For ten days, the metropolitan regions of Northwest and Hamburg put the energy carrier hydrogen in the spotlight – H2CAST Etzel was part of the event series!

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Marco Zobel"Hydrogen can be a wunderkind"

"Hydrogen can be a wunderkind"

Interview with Marco Zobel – chemical engineer accompanying the research project at Storag Etzel.

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Aerial view cavern facilityHydrogen Days Northwest

Hydrogen Days Northwest

Presentation of the hydrogen pilot project "H2CAST Etzel" by the project partners on 02.07.2022.

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Salt drill core in showcase at the Hanover FairDLR: All about hydrogen research

DLR: All about hydrogen research

Institute for Networked Energy Systems (DLR) presents current research topics at Hannover Messe 2022.

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STORAG ETZEL presented project H2CAST Etzel at event of the Lower Saxony Hydrogen Network

STORAG ETZEL presented project H2CAST Etzel at event of the Lower Saxony Hydrogen Network

Boris Richter, Commercial Director of STORAG ETZEL presented the R&D hydrogen project "H2CAST Etzel" on 08.06.2022 at the event "Northwest Lower Saxony - Foundation for Supply Security and Transformation".

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Photo of the well-attended event in EtzelInformation event H2CAST & presentation of regional development project plans

Information event H2CAST & presentation of regional development project plans

STORAG ETZEL information event on H2CAST and presentation of regional development project plans. Joint event of STORAG ETZEL and Energy Hub - Port of Wilhelmshaven.

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Wellhead technology for hydrogen caverns

Wellhead technology for hydrogen caverns

With the start of the North German pilot project "H2Cast Etzel", an optimal design of the hydrogen-compatible wellheads will be developed with the project partner Hartmann Valves.

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STORAG ETZEL is part of the "ENERGY-HUB PORT OF WILHELMSHAVEN"

STORAG ETZEL is part of the "ENERGY-HUB PORT OF WILHELMSHAVEN"

STORAG ETZEL as part of the "ENERGY-HUB PORT OF WILHELMSHAVEN" was an active participant of the kick-off event on "National Topics of the "Energiewende" in Berlin

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Group picture after handing over the funding decisions in EtzelFirst section of H2CAST Etzel launched

First section of H2CAST Etzel launched

The first phase of the H2 pilot project "H2CAST Etzel" starts - the R&D project will initially run until the end of 2024.

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Wilhelmshaven hydrogen capital

Wilhelmshaven hydrogen capital

Joint initiative of 14 companies drives development of Wilhelmshaven into hydrogen capital. DENA study to show ways to become an H2 hub.

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Project Partners

STORAG ETZEL GmbH are the biggest independent provider of cavern storage capacity in Germany. We are proud to make our contribution to the safety of energy supply and gas grid stability in Germany and Northwestern Europe. At Etzel, East Frisia, we are constructing, operating and leasing caverns for the purpose of bulk storage of crude oil and natural gas since 1971. The cavern site Etzel is situated on the North German energy hub near Wilhelmshaven, with a connection to the deep water port.

Our customers are well known energy trading companies as well as Europeans stockpiling organizations. A major part of the German oil stockpiling obligation is stored in our caverns here at Etzel. Beyond the currently existing 75 caverns, further storage cavities within the Etzel salt dome can be created in total. There is an expansion potential up to 99 cavern locations.

www.storag-etzel.de

Gasunie – crossing borders in energy

Gasunie is a European energy-infrastructure company. Gasunie’s network is one of the largest high-pressure pipeline networks in Europe, comprising over 17,000 kilometres of pipeline in the Netherlands and northern Germany. Gasunie provides natural and green gas transport services through its subsidiaries, Gasunie Transport Services B.V. (GTS) in the Netherlands and Gasunie Deutschland in Germany. With its cross-border gas infrastructure and services, Gasunie facilitates TTF, which has become the leading European gas trading point. Gasunie also provides other gas infrastructure services, including gas storage and LNG.

Gasunie wants to help accelerate the transition to a CO2-neutral energy supply and believes that gas-related innovations, for instance in the form of renewable gases such as hydrogen and green gas, can make an important contribution. Both existing and new gas infrastructure play a key role here. Gasunie also plays an active part in the development of other energy infrastructure to support the energy transition.

www.gasunie.com

DEEP.KBB GmbH, based in Bad Zwischenahn and Hannover, is one of the leading service companies in the field of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon storage in the geological subsurface in Europe. DEEP.KBB has over 50 years of international experience in the field of underground storage. DEEP.KBB is significantly involved in the design, construction and operation of underground storage facilities in salt rock for the storage of natural gas, mineral oil, gas and oil products, as well as storage of renewable energy, especially compressed air and hydrogen. The main focus of DEEP.KBB's services in the underground sector is on the disciplines of geology, rock mechanics, drilling and completion technology, thermodynamics, solution mining, mechanical integrity tests, cavern flooding, gas filling and reservoir engineering.

www.deep-kbb.de

The Institute of Networked Energy Systems was incorporated into the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in June 2017. The primary research objective of the three scientific departments Urban and Residential Technologies, Energy System Technologies and Energy Systems Analysis is to ensure the development of technologies and concepts for managing the energy transition. The Institute currently employs around 170 staff at two locations in Oldenburg and Stuttgart.

www.dlr.de

Hartmann Valves GmbH is a supplier of special ball valves, wellheads and related service and testing. The medium-sized family-owned company is managed by the third generation and employs 200 people at its German sites in Celle and Burgdorf. Thanks to decades of international experience in the oil & gas, storage technology and (petro)chemical industries, Hartmann Valves is a sought-after pioneering partner for the switch to renewable energies - both in the field of deep geothermal energy and in solutions for applications and underground storage of hydrogen.

www.hartmann-valves.com

For more than 30 years, the Chair of Geomechanics and Multi-Physical Systems at Clausthal University of Technology has been working on the stability and tightness of salt caverns for storage of energy raw materials such as natural gas and crude oil, for compressed air energy storage and for brine production. The verification of stability and tightness is based on extensive and complex numerical calculations, in which the caverns and the cavern operation pattern are simulated according to real conditions. The chair has one of the world's most efficient rock physics laboratories with more than 25 triaxial testing facilities for the analysis of the thermal-mechanical-hydraulic coupled material behavior of the rock mass. For the performance of its tasks in research and teaching, the chair has an extensively equipped laboratory (currently 25 rock mechanical testing facilities), a powerful computer pool and various numerical program systems.

www.ifad.tu-clausthal.de

SOCON Sonar Control Kavernenvermessung GmbH, based in Giesen (district of Hildesheim), is a globally active service company and specializes in the surveillance of caverns, boreholes and underground cavities using engineering surveying techniques. It has around 80 employees and can look back on over 50 years of experience in the field of echometric cavern surveying. All essential components of the tools, measurement and evaluation systems originate from the company's own research and development department.

www.socon.com