Can Salt Unlock Hydrogen's Future in Europe?

FormaPort pilots salt-based hydrogen storage, aiming for safer, cheaper solutions to drive Europe's clean energy future

9 Aug 2025

Europe is testing new ways to store hydrogen using salt-based compounds, aiming to cut costs and improve safety as the region expands its clean energy system.

On August 8, the €4.4mn FormaPort project secured €2.8mn in public funding to examine whether formate salts can act as practical hydrogen carriers. The project is designed to explore storage at room temperature, which could reduce the need for costly pressurised tanks or cooling systems.

The research group brings together academic and industrial partners with defined roles. The Leibniz Institute for Catalysis will lead chemical process development, while Wismar University of Applied Sciences, allocated about €1.1mn, will work on integration and system analysis. Akros Energy is responsible for building pilot plants, and engineering firm TAB will develop equipment for potential scale-up.

"This is a chance to rethink hydrogen logistics from the ground up," said one researcher involved in the project. "If we can make hydrogen easier to store and move, we can accelerate its role in Europe's energy transition."

Backers argue that formate salts could benefit regions lacking underground caverns or other advanced infrastructure by offering a storage option that is stable at ambient conditions. This could lower entry barriers for smaller producers and distributors.

Technical uncertainties remain, including the efficiency of releasing hydrogen from salts at scale. Other approaches, such as ammonia cracking, are also advancing and may compete for investment. Policymakers have emphasised that pursuing multiple technologies reflects Europe's broader strategy to secure a resilient hydrogen supply chain.

While still experimental, FormaPort marks a step in addressing one of the most persistent challenges for hydrogen adoption. If proven, the use of salt-based carriers could form part of Europe's push to replace fossil fuels across heavy industry, transport and power generation.