In early April, the IGU Storage Committee convened for its first meeting of the 2025–2028 triennium at DVGW headquarters in Bonn. DVGW serves as Secretariat Lead of this international committee and hosted the first inperson exchange of its members.

The meeting focused on joint technical work addressing key future challenges for the energy system. Participants included Gerald Linke, Chairman of the DVGW Executive Board and IGU Regional Coordinator Europe, as well as Sindy Aehnelt, Secretary of the IGU Storage Committee. As the newly nominated Chair of the Storage Committee, Erik Kolstø (SEFE) also participated.

One of the central topics addressed by the working groups is the role of underground storage in ensuring security of supply. In light of current political and geopolitical developments, underground storage facilities are gaining further importance. They play a vital role in safeguarding energy supply, particularly in times of market stress—and must continue to fulfil this role during the transition to a hydrogen economy.

A crucial enabler in this context is the repurposing of existing underground storage facilities for hydrogen. Accordingly, technological development pathways toward future hydrogen storage systems were a key focus of the discussions.

DVGW contributes substantially to the scientific foundation of this work. The DVGW H₂UGS metastudy concludes that underground hydrogen storage in salt caverns is technically feasible, safe, and indispensable for the energy transition—provided it is systematically planned, monitored, and regulated. The study serves as a key reference for further DVGW research activities, the UGS Hydrogen Compendium, and for energy policy positions supporting the hydrogen rollout. Furthermore, the Committee addressed the update and publication of worldwide storage data base.

Since the establishment of the Gas Steering Committee “Underground Storage” in November 2024, underground storage — and hydrogen storage in particular — has been firmly embedded within DVGW’s committee landscape. The IGU meeting in Bonn underscores DVGW’s commitment to shaping the future of storage infrastructure through international cooperation, sound science, and practical implementation.