Hydrogen requires less storage space than natural gas because of its low volumetric density
Timing a challenge for hydrogen storage
High targets for imports of the fuel will make storage critical for guaranteeing security of supply
Strong policy backing will be needed to support construction of hydrogen storage sites and speed up planning processes, according to industry association Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Existing natural gas storage sites are unlikely to be converted to hydrogen in the next few years, as they have become essential to security of supply following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The EU enacted a regulation requiring member states’ to ensure their natural gas storage sites were at least 80pc full before winter 2022–23 and 90pc for the following winters. The regulation has a sunset clause of December 2025. The regulation will make it challenging for gas-to-hydrogen storage conversions to be online
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25 February 2026
Low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia development is advancing much more slowly and unevenly than once expected, with high costs and policy uncertainty thinning investment. Meanwhile, surging energy demand is reinforcing the role of natural gas and LNG as the backbone of the global energy system, panellists at LNG2026 said
18 February 2026
Norwegian energy company has dropped a major hydrogen project and paused its CCS expansion plans as demand fails to materialise
4 February 2026
Europe’s largest electrolyser manufacturers are losing patience with policymakers as sluggish growth in the green hydrogen sector undermines their decision to expand production capacity
2 February 2026
As a fertiliser feedstock, it is indispensable, but ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free energy carrier is also making it central to global decarbonisation strategies
