Vast Salt Caverns to Store Hydrogen Beneath Former Naval Base
In a strategic move to bolster the UK's energy security, vast salt caverns are set to be excavated beneath Portland Harbour in Dorset, the site of Britain's largest former naval base. These caverns, each the size of St Paul's Cathedral, will store enough hydrogen to fuel a power station for several days, providing a crucial emergency energy reserve when renewable sources like wind and solar fall short.
The project has received the backing of Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho, who has adjusted government policy to secure taxpayer subsidies for the initiative. UK Oil and Gas (UKOG), the company spearheading the project, aims to seek planning permission within months.
"Portland Port is ideally situated for the construction of large salt caverns as it overlies a 450-metre thick, high-quality rock salt," said Stephen Sanderson, CEO of UKOG. The company plans to file the application under the government's nationally significant infrastructure system, which would allow the project to bypass potential local opposition.
Portland Harbour, located on England's south coast, boasts a rich history as a naval base dating back to the 16th century. Now, it will play a vital role in the UK's transition to a more sustainable energy future. The harbor's new role in hydrogen storage relies on a substantial layer of halite or rock salt found two miles beneath the surface, buried for at least 200 million years. This rock's stability and solubility make it ideal for creating the storage caverns.
The caverns will be formed by drilling wells into the salt and injecting fresh water to dissolve the rock. Each cavern will measure 85 meters in diameter and 90 meters high, with a capacity of 320,000 cubic meters – twice the volume of St Paul's Cathedral.
This ambitious project marks a significant step towards ensuring the UK's energy resilience, particularly as the nation transitions to more sustainable energy sources. It also signifies a strategic shift for UKOG, transitioning from its involvement in onshore oil and gas developments to a future focused on renewable energy.