UK Oil & Gas (UKOG), a United Kingdom-based energy company, on Monday announced plans for a second underground hydrogen storage project in the southwest of England. 

The company has secured land and subsurface mineral rights in south Dorset, near a planned hydrogen pipeline.

The new project will be located in the Dorset Triassic salt deposit, a geological formation known for its suitability for hydrogen storage. The site is expected to provide up to 10 terawatt-hours (TWh) of working storage per year, contributing significantly to the UK's hydrogen storage needs.

"This location offers an optimal opportunity to exploit the thickest part of the onshore Dorset Triassic salt deposit, allowing us to create large underground caverns with a relatively small surface footprint," said Stephen Sanderson, CEO of UK Energy Storage, a subsidiary of UKOG.

Salt formations are ideal for hydrogen storage due to their chemical stability, geological stability, and impermeability. This ensures that hydrogen can be stored safely and securely underground without leakage.

The project will finalize the lease agreement, conduct design studies, and submit a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project planning application.