An underground cavern in Beaumont, TX, now hosts an expansive hydrogen storage facility.

Storage is adequate to supply a large-scale steam methane reformer unit for 30 days. Source: Air LiquideThe storage cavern complements Air Liquide’s supply capabilities along the U.S. Gulf Coast, offering greater flexibility and reliable hydrogen supply solutions to customers via the company’s 3,200 km (1,988 mile) Gulf Coast Pipeline System.

The cavern is 1,500 m (4,921 ft) deep and nearly 70 m (229 ft) in diameter, capable of holding enough hydrogen to back up a large-scale steam methane reformer unit for 30 days.

Hydrogen is typically reformed from natural gas and is used in the refining process to desulfurize fuels and in a number of other industrial and manufacturing processes.

The new hydrogen cavern follows the commissioning of Air Liquide’s first pure helium storage facility in Germany in July 2016.