 Salt caverns have been successfully used for natural gas storage globally since the 1940s and are now being considered for hydrogen H2 storage, which is necessary to decarbonize the economy and achieve a net zero by 2050. These caverns are not sterile and H2 is a ubiquitous electron donor for microorganisms. This could mean that the injected H2 will be microbially consumed, leading to a volumetric loss and potential production of toxic H2S. However, the extent and rates of this microbial H2 consumption under high saline cavern conditions are not yet understood. To investigate microbial consumption rates, researchers cultured the halophilic sulfate-reducing bacteria desulfohalobium ratbains and the halophilic methanogen methanocalculus halatolerance under different H2 partial pressures. Both strains consumed H2, but consumption rates slowed down significantly over time. The activity loss correlated with a significant pH increase, up to pH 9, in the media due to Intense Pro. This article was offered by Nicole Doppel, Kyle Myers, Abdul Jalil Kedir, and others. We are article.tv, links in the description below.