Belgium marks another important step in the field of alternative energy

Belgium is marking another important step in the field of alternative energy by launching the world's first experiment in underground hydrogen storage. This was reported by the national gas transmission operator Fluxys.

Using its 40 years of experience with underground natural gas storage facilities, Fluxys is now breaking new ground by exploring the possibility of storing hydrogen in underground aquifers.

The experiment will be conducted at the Loenhout underground storage facility in the province of Antwerp in western Belgium. In partnership with Fluxys, the world leader in underground storage, the French company Geostock, as well as representatives of the University of Ghent, will take part in this pilot project.

Pascal Baylock, CEO of Geostock, emphasizes that the results of this experiment have the potential to provide access to large hydrogen storage facilities across Europe in the future. This will be an important supportive element for the challenges of the energy transition.

It should be noted that the BE-HyStore pilot project was supported by the Energy Transition Fund of the Belgian federal government.

Not only Belgium is interested in the possibility of storing hydrogen underground. Ukraine is also exploring this technology through the storage operator Ukrtransgaz. Experts are considering the possibility of converting the Krasnopopivske underground storage facility in Luhansk Oblast to store hydrogen or a mixture of hydrogen and methane.

Ukrtransgaz is also considering cooperation with European operators on hydrogen technologies, which is an indicator of the growing interest in using hydrogen as an environmentally friendly energy source.