UK Relocates Plans for Largest Hydrogen Storage Caverns to Weymouth
Weymouth, Thursday, 30 January 2025.
Plans for creating the UK’s largest hydrogen storage caverns have moved from Portland to Weymouth. This shift promises higher capacity, significant cost savings, and an emphasis on green hydrogen storage.
Strategic Relocation Benefits
I’m excited to share that UK Oil and Gas PLC (UKOG) has made a game-changing decision for Britain’s hydrogen future. The new site west of Weymouth will feature 24 salt caverns drilled 1.3km underground [1][2], offering an impressive 12% more storage capacity than the original Portland location [7]. What’s particularly interesting is how this move could save approximately £450 million in development costs [1][7], making the project 36% more economical than the Portland alternative.
Technical Innovations
As someone who follows energy storage developments closely, I find the technical specifications fascinating. The facility will be capable of storing one billion cubic metres of hydrogen [1], and the new location offers up to 2.9 times the annual cycling capacity compared to Portland [7]. The site’s proximity to the planned H2 Connect hydrogen trunk pipeline [7] makes it strategically positioned to connect with the UK’s broader hydrogen infrastructure.
Green Hydrogen Commitment
What really sets this project apart is its commitment to green hydrogen. While most of the UK’s current hydrogen production is ‘blue hydrogen’, requiring CO2 capture and storage [1][4], UKOG has explicitly confirmed that these caverns will strictly store green hydrogen [1]. This aligns perfectly with our need to transition to cleaner energy sources. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar [4], making it a truly sustainable energy carrier.
Future Implications
Looking ahead, this project could be transformative for the UK’s energy landscape. While the exact location details are still under wraps and landowner agreements are pending [1], the facility is positioned to play a crucial role in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts [7]. There’s even discussion of developing a green hydrogen pilot plant at Portland Port [1], showing how this project could catalyze broader hydrogen infrastructure development in the region.