Unlocking Australia’s hydrogen industry through large-scale salt caverns

R&D Focus Areas:
Underground storage

Lead Organisation:
The University of Adelaide

Partners:
Woodside Energy Global Pty Ltd, Northern Territory Geologic Survey, CSIRO, Western Michigan University, South Australian Department for Energy and Mining.

Status:
Active

Start date:
July 2025

Completion date:
June 2028

Key contacts:
Dr Rachelle Kernen – rachelle.kernen@adelaide.edu.au

Funding:
AUD$432,707 – Australian Research Council (ARC, Early Career Industry Fellowship)

Project total cost:
ARC funding contribution shown above.

Project summary description:
This project evaluates Australia’s ancient salt deposits to identify optimal sites for underground Hydrogen storage. Salt caverns are the most cost-effective solution for this purpose, making it essential to characterise the sedimentology and structural geology of these deposits thoroughly. The project aims to optimise salt cavern sites in areas with limited geological data by employing an interdisciplinary approach using outcrop analogues from South Australia and the Northern Territory as inputs for novel physical and geophysical modelling.

Related publications and key links:
RGS Grant – Grants Data Portal

Higher degree studies supported:
Two PhD students and five Honours students.

 

October 2025