The Hydrogen Opportunity
Hydrogen is an energy carrier that plays a key role in the decarbonisation of multiple industries. Hydrogen storage is an essential component enabling the achievement of this ambition. The vertical hydrogen storage approach is a considerably more cost-effective solution than any above ground option, whilst offering modularity and site independence advantages over bespoke lined rock caverns or salt caverns.
Transport
Hydrogen is already powering next-generation mobility technologies. Toyota and Hyundai have fuel‑cell passenger vehicles on the road, manufacturers are developing hydrogen buses and trucks, and Alstom has a hydrogen-powered train operating in Germany. Globally, maritime industries are exploring renewable hydrogen-derived ammonia as a shipping fuel, and hydrogen is a promising pathway for future sustainable aviation fuels.
Storing Electric Power
Stored green hydrogen can be converted back into electricity using fuel cells or hydrogen-compatible gas turbines to provide energy whenever needed, day or night, wind or no wind.
To supply just 30% of Australia’s electricity for one week (around 1.5 TWh), storage equivalent to 75,000 tonnes of hydrogen would be required. This scale of energy resilience demands underground storage.
Green Ammonia
Ammonia is one of the world’s most produced chemicals, critical for fertilisers and explosives. Australia’s seven major ammonia plants currently generate more than 3.3 million tonnes annually, and all are investigating a transition to green ammonia.
Producing this volume requires 580,000 tonnes of hydrogen each year. Maintaining only a two‑day operational buffer means storing around 3,000 tonnes of hydrogen—again highlighting the need for large‑scale, economical underground storage.
Export
Australia’s future as a renewable energy exporter relies heavily on hydrogen. Countries like Japan and South Korea intend to import hydrogen at scale, but shipping requires conversion to ammonia, cryogenic liquid hydrogen, or other hydrogen carriers.
Because hydrogen production from renewables fluctuates, exporters need large storage buffers to ensure 24/7 production of export-ready fuels.
Access a curated collection of hydrogen strategies, roadmaps and supporting research to inform future hydrogen opportunities.