Title: Environments Matter: Effect of Minerals and Competition from Other Microbes on the Activity of H₂-Consuming Microbe
Speaker: Verena Nikeleit is a Research Scientist at NORCE. Her research focuses on subsurface microbiology and the interactions between microorganisms and geological environments, with particular relevance for underground energy storage.
Date: 28.08.2026
Below are the key highlights from the webinar, including a short summary designed for our non-technical audience.
🔬 Scientific summary
Microbial impacts on underground hydrogen storage: The role of reservoir minerals Underground hydrogen storage is considered a promising option for balancing intermittent renewable energy supply. However, naturally occurring subsurface microorganisms can consume stored hydrogen, potentially causing hydrogen loss, gas contamination, corrosion and changes in reservoir properties. In this study, different hydrogen-consuming microorganisms, including methanogens, acetogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria, were incubated with representative reservoir minerals. The results showed that mineralogy strongly influences microbial activity, with certain minerals promoting and others inhibiting microbial activity. The findings demonstrate that reservoir mineral composition plays an important role in controlling microbial behaviour and associated risks in underground hydrogen storage systems. Improved understanding of microbe-mineral interactions can support site selection, risk assessment and reservoir management
🤝 Non-technical summary
Can underground microbes affect hydrogen storage?
Hydrogen is expected to play an important role in future low-carbon energy systems and storing hydrogen underground could help balance energy supply from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
This webinar explored how naturally occurring underground microorganisms interact with stored hydrogen. Some microbes can use hydrogen as an energy source, which may reduce the overall amount and unwanted by-products can be formed by the microbes. The research showed that different types of rocks and minerals which are present underground can either promote or limit microbial activity.
These findings will help researchers to better understand in which underground sites hydrogen storage will work best and how potential challenges caused my microbes can be identified and managed.