Review on large-scale hydrogen storage systems for better sustainability

Continuous population growth and enhanced living standards have caused a significant rise in energy demand worldwide. Because of the intermittent nature of renewables (Solar, Wind, Geothermal, etc.), their integration with large scale hydrogen generation and storage units is required for sustainability. The present work reviews the worldwide developmental status of large-scale hydrogen storage demonstrations using various storage technologies such as compressed, cryogenic, liquid organic hydrogen carrier, and solid-state hydrogen storage. It covers the classification of tank materials with distinguished manufacturers based on pressure range (200–950 bar), cost (83–700 USD/kg), and windings for compressed hydrogen storage. A brief summary of active and developing underground storage sites in various parts of the world is also included. It also provides a comparative review of different liquefaction cycle based installed systems and corresponding energy input. The review summarizes industrial establishments working in the field of liquid organic hydrogen carriers for H2 storage and transportation. It also covers a brief review on other adsorption and absorption based large-scale hydrogen storage systems. Furthermore, the review lays down the roadmap of hydrogen infrastructure for developing countries like India. A comparative overview of the economics of hydrogen production globally is also presented.