German utility Uniper launched its HyStorage research project with the aim to determine the technical viability of porous rock facilities for the storage of hydrogen, the company announced on 8 August.

The testing process is expected to take place on a designated drilling site at Uniper Energy Storage Bierwang site.

The Uniper-led consortium is consisting of the energy firms, NAFTA, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE), RAG Austria and OGE and intends to bring a specialised storage testing unit which will investigate the effects of hydrogen of porous rock formations.

The research project does have the backing of the Southern Bavarian Mining Authority, which has also approved this proposal.

According to OGE and Uniper, commissioning is in progress and the first hydrogen volumes are expected to be injected in September.

The test consists of injections of methane-hydrogen gas mixtures at different concentrations of hydrogen of 5%, 10%, and 25% content in the gas mixture.

The goal is to inject such mixtures to formerly-used natural gas storage facilities in three phases and withdraw them after three months for observation.