Speaker
Description
To bridge the gap between daily fluctuating renewable energy production and times of energy demand, research into effective energy storage methods is critical. Green hydrogen produced via electrolysis of renewable electricity can be used as energy carrier and be stored for longer durations to balance energy generation and use. Hydrogen has promising characteristics like its high mass energy density (33.3 kWh/kg), but its low volumetric calorific value (3 kWh/m3) necessitates large-scale storage options. Large-scale underground hydrogen storage (UHS) in subsurface reservoirs necessitates careful consideration of microbial risks. While hydrogen serves as a versatile electron donor for many subsurface microorganisms, microbial activity can lead to hydrogen loss, reservoir souring and detrimental changes to reservoir properties. A significant concern is the formation of biofilm and induced bioclogging, which may reduce the hydrogen injectivity and storage operation efficiency by altering the subsurface hydrogen flow.
This study investigates how different electron donors—specifically hydrogen and lactate—affect the growth dynamics of a sulfate-reducing bacteria (Oleidesulfovibrio alaskensis) and associated biofilm formation in porous media. The pore-scale observations reveal that lactate promotes robust biofilms with bioclogging, compared with hydrogen promoting sustained microbial motility with less biomass production. Furthermore, with hydrogen as the primary electron donor, the biofilms disperse and detach over time as the cells favor a planktonic lifestyle over biofilm formation. Multiple hydrogen injections enhanced biofilm detachment to reduce the risk of pore blockage associated with microbial growth. The combination of increased motility and reduced biofilm attachment indicates that bioclogging during cyclic UHS operation might be low.
| Country | Norway |
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