Large-scale underground storage of hydrogen will make it possible to store much larger stocks than in current liquid hydrogen cryogenic reservoirs, limited to a few million m3 (n) hydrogen. Two techniques have been derived from natural gas storage: salt cavities created by dissolution and aquifer storages. Adaptations to take account of hydrogen properties and corrosion resistance of equipment will be made as needed. Hydrogen is already being transmitted on quite a large scale in west Germany, France and Belgium, using techniques which can also be used for large-scale transmission. Despite the fact that underground storages require special geological sites the costs of hydrogen storage and transmission for major industrial zones will generally be relatively moderate in the long run.
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