Air Liquide operates the world’s largest hydrogen storage facility

Air Liquide has recently commissioned the largest hydrogen storage facility in the world, an underground cavern in Beaumont, Texas, in the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. The unique hydrogen storage cavern complements Air Liquide’s supply capabilities along the Gulf Coast, offering greater flexibility and reliable hydrogen supply solutions to customers via Air Liquide’s extensive Gulf Coast Pipeline System.

The underground storage cavern is 1,500 meters deep and nearly 70 meters in diameter. The facility can hold enough hydrogen to back up a large-scale steam methane reformer (SMR) unit for 30 days. Hydrogen is typically reformed from natural gas, since it is present in very small quantity in the air. As such, it is of great benefit to have a large, interconnected storage solution to optimise supply to customers reliably and efficiently.

Hydrogen is used in the refining process to desulfurize fuels and in several other industrial and manufacturing processes.

Hydrogen’s environmentally sustainable benefits go beyond its industrial applications. As clean energy, hydrogen used for mobility powers fuel cell vehicles with zero emissions, and can be stored and used to help manage electric grid demand.

This new hydrogen cavern follows the commissioning of Air Liquide’s first pure helium storage facility in Germany in July 2016.

Member of the Air Liquide Group’s Executive Committee and Executive Vice-President for the Americas, Michael Graff said: “Air Liquide’s investment in the world’s largest hydrogen storage cavern is supported by the strength of the refining and petrochemicals markets along the U.S. Gulf Coast and the rising demand for hydrogen. This unique facility positions us to deliver even greater value to customers through innovative solutions.”

For more information visit www.airliquide.com

16th Jan 2017