TU Delft - Student Story - BSc Earth, Climate and Technology - The Subsurface Battery

This video shows a bachelor's thesis experiment of Bengt, a student in Earth, Climate and Technology of the TU Delft. "What appealed to me from the very beginning was how directly this study contributes to the energy transition." – Bengt, Earth, Climate and Technology student. “During the energy transition, we increasingly rely on renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. In summer, more electricity is often generated than needed, because demand is lower. This surplus can be converted into hydrogen gas. In winter, when electricity demand rises, the stored hydrogen can be used again to generate power. To do this, we need something that functions as a large battery in which the hydrogen can be temporarily stored. One way to achieve this is by using depleted gas fields as storage sites for hydrogen. To determine whether such a gas field is suitable, there must be a sealing or confining top layer, called the ‘caprock’. The caprock prevents tiny hydrogen molecules from escaping. In my research, I examined how well a specific type of rock can function as such a caprock”. Bengt's research helps the energy industry to safely store renewable power for the future. Do you also like to study something that allows you to make an impact? Check out the English-taught Bachelor's programme Earth, Climate and Technology at TU Delft. By joining this programme, you become part of a welcoming, small-scale, and international community. You will have plenty of opportunities to experiment, test your ideas, and learn by doing! Check out the English-taught TU Delft BSc programme Earth, Climate and Technology: www.tudelft.nl/bsc/ect