Sandia National Laboratories. (2014, December 9). Sandia Labs study points to advantages of storing hydrogen in salt mines. Retrieved February 27, 2015, from Environmental News Network website: http://www.enn.com/energy/article/48077
Sandia National Laboratories have discovered that “large-scale storage of low pressure, gaseous hydrogen in salt caverns and other underground sites for transportation fuel and grid-scale energy applications offers several advantages over above-ground storage.” This discovery of geologic storage of hydrogen could make it easier for companies selling fuel cell electric cars to access large amounts of hydrogen fuel. Salt caverns would “provide a low-cost solution for the geologic storage of hydrogen.” This will lead to the examination of metropolitan cities to see if they can store large quantities of gas.
This article relates to environmental science because it shows how the science behind transportation is developing further into more cost efficient, natural alternatives. Storing hydrogen gas in salt caverns seems to be a perfect solution over above ground storage. This solution will not only make it easier for companies selling fuel cell electric cats to access large amounts of hydrogen fuel, but it also saves
money. Of course I must question the environmental downsides to this type of storage. What if “hydrogen gas mixes with residual gas or oil, or reacts with minerals in surrounding rock?” How about the actual destruction of geologic rock to store the hydrogen gas? What kinds of environmental issues will this pose?
If they are not sure about how many downsides there are, should they risk taking a chance?
Yes Olivia, I think the risk is well justified.
That is really interesting- seems safer than having that H2 above ground. The question that I still have is how do we produce the hydrogen? Do you think hydrogen fuel has a future? Will be very interesting to see how this whole hydrogen thing pans out.
You produced several high quality abstracts this year Taryn. Hope you found your topic to be interesting.
Mr. Powell, I think hydrogen fuel definitely has a future, especially in the car industry. There’s just so much that needs to be improved, researched, learned, etc. about hydrogen fuel.