Now available: HEAVENN webinar replay – Building confidence in underground hydrogen storage (UHS)

January 2026

On December 17, 2025, the HEAVENN project hosted a high-level webinar titled “Confidence in Underground Hydrogen Storage (UHS) in Zuidwending, The Netherlands.” The session explored how real-world operational experience serves as the foundation for public trust—one of the most critical success factors for the global scale-up of hydrogen.

The webinar replay is now available for all platform members and hydrogen stakeholders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DC520WndQ

Why Underground Storage is a Game-Changer

For hydrogen territories to thrive, large-scale and long-duration storage is essential. As highlighted by Eddy Kuperus (Gasunie), underground options like salt caverns provide the necessary volume to balance renewable energy variability and ensure security of supply, moving beyond simple short-term buffering to true system-wide stability.

Key Insights from the Session

The webinar delved into the technical and strategic lessons learned from the Zuidwending pilot project:

  • Safety & Standards: While hydrogen behaves differently than natural gas (lower ignition energy and different material compatibility), the pilot confirmed that it can be stored safely using similar methodologies.

  • The Zuidwending Pilot: Since 2018, Gasunie has tested cavern integrity and operational procedures. The findings reveal no technical "deal-breakers," proving that large-scale storage is feasible today.

  • Hydrogen Quality: An ongoing debate remains regarding European standards for purity, especially when repurposing existing assets.

  • The "Confidence Quadrant": Success isn't just about technology. It requires a balance of four pillars: Technical reliability, Governmental support, Economic viability, and Societal acceptance.

"Technical feasibility is the baseline, but public trust is built through governance, transparency, and clear communication of safety and benefits." — Eddy Kuperus, Gasunie.

Watch the Replay

Whether you are a project developer, policymaker, or researcher, the lessons shared in this session are highly transferable to hydrogen infrastructure projects worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6DC520WndQ