Revising the theoretical storage potential of hydrogen in UK salt caverns: a multi-criteria assessment of the east coast of England

Hydrogen is expected to play a crucial role in decarbonising hard-to-electrify industries and in serving as an energy storage vector in the UK's net zero transition. While many studies estimate hydrogen storage capacity in onshore and offshore UK, they often do not account for feasibility constraints. This study reassesses the hydrogen storage capacity potential of salt caverns in England's East Coast, defining a new ‘ Storage reserve potential .’ This integrates the geographical distribution of Zechstein halite-bearing strata with land-use restrictions, including existing and planned industrial, social, and environmental constraints. By considering high-level technical constraints, this study refines previous storage estimates, reducing them by approximately 95%. Despite this significant reduction, the region still offers over 22 TWh of hydrogen storage capacity. However, major challenges remain, particularly the long timescales required to develop and commission new salt cavern storage at scale, limiting its feasibility by 2050. These findings highlight the need for strategic planning and investment to overcome deployment challenges. The methodology presented can be applied to other key regions in the UK and internationally, providing a more realistic assessment of hydrogen storage potential in salt caverns.