How can hydrogen storage help unlock a flexible, low-carbon power system when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining? That’s the challenge we explored at Knapton, a former gas-fired power station site in North Yorkshire.

Hydrogen is vital for low-carbon power, but cannot always be used as soon as it is produced. Storage is needed to bank hydrogen during periods of surplus and release it when demand peaks or renewable generation is low. We used the Knapton site to assess viable hydrogen storage options, given its existing grid and gas connections, land, water access, and a long energy history. It also sits within the East Coast Hydrogen corridor, linking future production in Teesside and the Humber with emerging regional demand.

The team assessed options including repurposing depleted gas fields and wells, reusing existing pipeline infrastructure, and exploring above-ground engineered storage and emerging technologies. The findings show a mixed portfolio is needed in the UK: smaller engineered systems enable flexibility and speed, while geological storage provides large-scale, long-duration capacity.

The study also highlighted the potential to repurpose existing gas assets, such as depleted reservoirs and wells, which already demonstrate safe gas storage and could be adapted for hydrogen with further engineering assessment.

The outcome is an evidence base and roadmap for next-stage design work, now progressing to the SIF Alpha stage following funding confirmation in June 2026. This will help position Knapton as a blueprint for transforming former energy sites into enablers of a flexible, low-carbon energy system.