Potential Impacts of Subsurface Hydrogen Storage on Groundwater
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Date
2022-12-02
Authors
Callan, Madison
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Due to hydrogen being such a novel energy resource, there are several concerns and possible limitations associated with large-scale storage. Hydrogen is unstable as a liquid, so it must be stored as a gas; however, when stored in porous reservoirs, hydrogen-driven oxidation-reduction reactions that consume hydrogen might occur, which could potentially alter the reservoir water composition. Additionally, hydrogen gas might leak into shallow aquifers, resulting in a high dissolved hydrogen concentration in groundwater, further causing redox reactions involving the oxidation of hydrogen. This study aims to provide elementary data and results on the behavior of hydrogen gas in a shallow unconfined aquifer, and describe how groundwater would be affected. Further experiments should be conducted that simulate a continuous leak spanning several days as opposed to a short term injection in order to be more representative of an actual hydrogen leak. As hydrogen energy becomes more prevalent to supply society’s increasing need for renewable energy resources, it is necessary to conduct research on all possible impacts to the environment. Effective monitoring of groundwater must be designed and implemented for the purpose of detecting a hydrogen leak from a subsurface storage site into a shallow aquifer. This could have noticeable effects on groundwater that is pumped for human consumption or other uses, and is thus a paramount area of interest.