The project aims to characterize hydrogen-consuming microbial activity and its interaction with storage formations to establish principles that mitigate risks and enable rapid adoption of porous media underground storage within the European hydrogen ecosystem. This goal is pursued through quantifiable objectives, including:

• Developing standardized field sampling protocols and bio-geochemical laboratory methods.
• Mapping microbial taxonomic and functional diversity across Europe.
• Creating models to upscale laboratory bio-geochemical findings for site-specific microbial risk assessments.
• Delivering a fast-track site selection tool with a predictive microbial risk index.
• Updating guidelines to assist storage site operators in risk identification and management.

HyDRA research focuses on the complex interplay between microbial, geochemical, and flow dynamics in underground hydrogen storage. Addressing this knowledge gap is essential for advancing and standardizing guidelines, protocols, and regulations to accelerate widespread European UHS deployment.