Storage technologies

The ways in which hydrogen is stored determine its applicability in different energy and industrial sectors. Available technologies are divided into physical and chemical approaches, each with specific characteristics in terms of storage density, safety, and efficiency. Physical storage includes consolidated solutions such as compressed gaseous hydrogen and liquid hydrogen, as well as more recent developments such as cryo-compressed hydrogen storage and the use of porous materials. Chemical storage is based on reversible reactions that allow hydrogen to bind to metal hydrides, chemical complexes, or liquid organic hydrogen carriers, improving the volumetric density but with operational constraints. Underground systems offer additional possibilities for large-scale storage. Each technology has advantages and limitations, which are analyzed in the following sections together with the prospects for optimization and integration into existing infrastructures.