An Aberdeen University-led study exploring the use of a depleted gas field in Scotland to store hydrogen has raised concerns about the future viability of similar projects.
The research concluded the Cousland gas field in Midlothian fails to meet the criteria for safe subsurface hydrogen storage and recommended it should not be used.
Located near Dalkeith, Cousland was decommissioned in the 1960s and other academic studies had identified it as a potential contender for large-scale hydrogen storage.
Hydrogen storage is a crucial factor for the development of a hydrogen fuel economy as part of meeting UK net zero ambitions.
A report by the Royal Society estimated the UK could need as much as 100TWH of hydrogen capacity by 2050.
While hydrogen can be safely stored in rock salt caverns, there are no onshore salt deposits located within Scotland.
As a result, some studies proposed using Scotland’s depleted onshore and offshore gas…
