astora: great interest in market enquiry on demand for hydrogen storage capacities

[Kassel, 19 February 2024] Hydrogen storages are an essential element for a secure transformation of the energy industry. In November 2023, astora conducted a non-binding market survey on the ramp-up of hydrogen storage demands. The aim was to gain an impression of the requirements of potential customers for hydrogen storage capacities, particularly regarding the development of the hydrogen storage project in Jemgum.

"The market survey met with great interest on the market, and we are very satisfied with the result," says Robert Ritz, Commercial Project Manager Hydrogen at astora. Based on the feedback, further discussions were held with all participants in order to categorise demand. As a result, significant demand for hydrogen storage capacities became clear, which exceeds the planning of the long-term scenarios of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz (BMWK)) in 2030. astora received a total of ten positive responses from relevant market participants.

"Several responses are based on specific projects. These alone already account for around half of the demand according to the BMWK's long-term scenarios in 2032. In addition, there is further significant demand for storage volumes, which, however, can still be categorised as unspecific at the present time," continued Ritz. "Furthermore, it can be assumed that the actual market demand is even higher than the results of our survey." In any case, it is clear that large-scale storage facilities are needed and must be an essential part of the new hydrogen infrastructure. Hydrogen storage systems will make a decisive contribution to covering peak loads – both in terms of volume and capacity – so that the hydrogen network can be designed efficiently and as cost-effectively as possible from the outset.

The market survey also revealed that hydrogen storage customers have significantly higher flexibility requirements for the products compared to those in the existing natural gas market. These will be particularly important at the beginning, i.e., during the ramp-up of the hydrogen market. This also shows that the hydrogen infrastructure can only meet the challenges of stronger structuring requirements on the supply and demand side with the help of sufficient hydrogen storage facilities. Large-volume hydrogen storage systems are therefore indispensable for the necessary continuous supply of hydrogen to industry and hydrogen power plants. Right at the start of the transformation to a climate-neutral, forward-looking industry, it is of great importance to create the conditions for the market ramp-up of large-volume hydrogen storage systems such as Jemgum H₂.

"astora, as part of the SEFE Group, is pursuing the clear goal of providing the necessary capacities and products and being a pioneer in the field of hydrogen storage. This requires a suitable regulatory framework with sufficient investment security, which politicians will hopefully put in place in the short term with the help of the storage strategy," emphasises Eduard Schmitke, Managing Director of astora.

The results now serve as a basis for further planning of the Jemgum H₂ project. The future hydrogen storage system is to be aligned with market requirements within the scope of the technical parameters.