A new underground “battery” is set to be built in a small town in central Utah, which will store hydrogen as a clean energy source. Developers are creating two caverns deep in a geological salt formation near Delta, Utah, that will be able to store hydrogen gas. The hydrogen will be produced nearby using excess solar and wind power through electrolysis. This process will be done in the spring and fall when energy demand is low, and the hydrogen will be stored until peak energy demand in the summer.
The new facility will replace a coal plant in the area, helping to clean up the air for local residents. Exposure to pollution from coal burning can lead to respiratory illnesses, neurological and developmental damage, and lung disease. This investment in clean energy sources is essential to combat the overheating of our planet, with coal, oil, and gas being major contributors to planet-warming pollution and carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
While hydrogen production can create pollution if powered by coal or gas, when solar or wind energy powers the process, it becomes a clean storage resource known as “green hydrogen.” Green hydrogen is gaining traction in the United States, with plans for a Texas factory to produce green hydrogen using wind and sun as energy sources for electrolysis. The Biden administration has also announced $7 billion in funding for hydrogen projects across the country to boost production.
However, achieving 100% hydrogen use in the next 20 years will likely require major facility upgrades or complete rebuilding, according to Ilissa Ocko, a scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. The costs of making necessary adjustments to infrastructure could add up, and there are complicating factors that could make the project not beneficial to the climate. Despite these challenges, the Utah project is seen as a significant amount of storage that can complement other renewable energy projects in the West, helping to deal with excess electricity supply in the spring and fall.
Jigar Shah, head of the Department of Energy’s loan program office, emphasized the importance of the project in managing surplus electricity. The plant in Utah will provide valuable storage for excess supply from other renewable energy projects in the region. While there are obstacles to overcome in transitioning to green hydrogen and achieving significant reductions in planet-warming pollution, investments in clean energy sources like hydrogen produced with renewable energy are crucial for a sustainable future. Overall, the development of this underground hydrogen storage facility in Utah represents a step towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for the local community and the planet as a whole.
