Storengy UK has picked the infrastructure specialist to deliver front-end engineering and design work on its Keuper Gas Storage Project near Northwich .

The facility will see 19 salt caverns converted to hold up to 400 million cubic metres of hydrogen – enough to store around 1,300 gigawatt hours of energy.

Costain will split the work into two FEED packages. The first covers solution mining to create the caverns using pumped water and brine extraction.

The second will focus on gas treatment, compression and transportation infrastructure to feed hydrogen in and out of the site via the HyNet network.

Designs are due to complete in 2026 ahead of a final investment decision on the underground storage scheme.

Costain has a track record in salt cavern design and has operated on the Holford brinefields for nearly two decades. It previously delivered the nearby Stublach gas storage facility.

Sam White, Costain managing director for natural resources, said: “This is an exciting project that will enable a transformative hydrogen storage facility to improve the UK’s energy resilience and economic prosperity in the Northwest.”

Paul Snary, hydrogen director at Storengy UK, added: “The Keuper Gas Storage Project is a key initiative which, as part of the wider HyNet system, will help decarbonise both industry and energy generation in the Northwest of England and beyond.”