China has officially commissioned its first one-million-cubic-metre-level salt cavern hydrogen storage demonstration project in Pingdingshan, Henan province, signalling a new stage in the industrial development of the national hydrogen energy chain.
The project is expected to strengthen large-scale storage capacity and enhance the efficiency of hydrogen utilisation, as reported by
Xinhua News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS.
Yang Chunhe, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasised that salt cavern hydrogen storage represents a critical technological solution for overcoming limitations in hydrogen storage and transportation. He noted that the innovation plays an important role in supporting the creation of a modern energy system.
The project was developed on the basis of high-quality salt rock resources and led by the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The initiative focuses on creating a salt cavern with a water-soluble volume exceeding 30,000 cubic metres and achieving a hydrogen storage capacity of up to 1.5 million standard cubic metres.
According to available data, the facility currently operates with two compressors, injecting hydrogen at a pressure of 15 megapascal (MPa) and a rate of 2,000 standard cubic metres per hour.
Future plans include expanding the use of hydrogen across multiple sectors, such as blended energy systems, heavy-duty transport, and industrial heating.