Renewable Hydrogen Production and Geostorage Potential in Eastern Canada: A Qualitative Assessment

Energy storage systems, in a variety of forms and scales, contribute substantially to energy conservation while ensuring a reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy supply in modern hybrid energy systems. Storing the massive volumes of hydrogen required to meet future global supply chain demands can be achieved through geostorage in caverns in subsurface salt structures, created by controlled dissolution of the salt, and depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs. This study qualitatively but systematically assesses the potential use of geostorage solutions for large-scale energy storage in the Canadian Eastern region to support the renewables-to-hydrogen industry. The qualitative assessments indicate that the four Atlantic Provinces and Québec possess great potential for national-/international-scale hydrogen production with high-quality year-round wind resources, extensive shallow offshore seabed areas suitable for wind turbine deployment, extensive and expanding electrical grid connectivity, deep-water ports, and extensive salt deposits with structures suitable for massive geostorage. The assessment also demonstrates that integrated hydrogen production and geostorage systems can support large-scale renewable energy utilization while enhancing long-duration energy storage and grid stability. Furthermore, a portion of the waste heat generated during electrolysis, hydrogen compression, and chemical conversion processes can be utilized for district heating, greenhouse operations, compressed-air energy heat provision, and industrial applications, improving overall system efficiency and reducing fossil fuel usage and carbon-based emissions. The qualitative assessments also highlight the importance of coordinated interprovincial and federal planning to support long-term decarbonization efforts and develop sustainable, reliable geostorage-based hybrid energy systems.