Plans are progressing to convert Dorset’s salt caverns for hydrogen storage, a pivotal move for the UK’s energy resilience. Each cavern, comparable in size to St Paul’s Cathedral, aims to provide emergency energy reserves.
- The project will involve the creation of 19 caverns, each with the capacity to store substantial quantities of hydrogen.
- Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, has endorsed the project, ensuring government support and taxpayer subsidies.
- UK Oil and Gas (UKOG) is leading the initiative, with planning permission expected to be sought soon.
- Portland Harbour, historically significant as a former Royal Navy base, will be transformed into a key site for hydrogen storage.
The project entails excavating 19 vast salt caverns beneath Portland Harbour in Dorset, each capable of storing enough hydrogen to fuel a power station for several days. This initiative is designed to provide emergency energy reserves when renewable sources such as wind and solar fall short.
Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, has supported the scheme and adjusted the government’s hydrogen storage policy to ensure taxpayer subsidies for the project. Coutinho’s endorsement underscores the project’s significance for the UK’s long-term energy strategy.
UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), the company behind this ambitious project, plans to seek planning permission within the coming months. According to UKOG’s CEO, Stephen Sanderson, the application will be filed under the government’s nationally significant infrastructure system, which is designed to streamline the approval process and mitigate local opposition.
Portland Port’s suitability for this project is notable due to its substantial layer of high-quality rock salt, which lies 450 metres beneath the surface. Stephen Sanderson has highlighted the port’s ideal conditions for constructing the caverns, which will be achieved by drilling wells into the salt and injecting fresh water to dissolve it, forming the storage spaces.
The harbour, located in Weymouth Bay, has a storied history dating back to the 16th century and served as a major Royal Navy base until its closure in 1995. Currently, it is a significant harbour and training centre for the UK’s Olympic sailing teams. This transformation into a hydrogen storage hub marks a new chapter in its enduring legacy.
Matt Cartwright, UKOG’s commercial director, provided insights into the technical aspects of the project, specifying that each cavern will measure 85 metres in diameter and 90 metres in height, with a capacity of 320,000 cubic metres, roughly twice the size of St Paul’s Cathedral.
The project will be managed by UK Energy Storage, a subsidiary of UKOG, as the company transitions from its controversial engagements in onshore oil and gas to focusing on renewable energy. This strategic shift is crucial for the company’s future, aligning with global movements towards sustainable energy solutions.
Despite facing legal challenges from its oil and gas activities in southern England, UKOG remains committed to the hydrogen project, demonstrating a clear pivot towards more sustainable energy aims. A UKOG spokesperson reiterated this commitment, stating, “We are moving away from oil and gas and see a much bigger future in renewable energy.”
This ambitious project signifies a vital step towards enhancing the UK’s energy security through innovative hydrogen storage solutions.
