This masterclass summarizes and explains the standard operating procedures (SOP)for all the molecular genetic methods used in Hylife project.
As we pave the way towards a green future, hydrogen underground storage emerges as a promising solution for storing large quantities of hydrogen. This technology could revolutionize our energy systems, but there’s a fascinating and often overlooked aspect: the subterranean microbiome. Yes, there are countless microorganisms thriving within these storage sites, and many of them have an appetite for hydrogen.
Currently, our understanding of these microorganisms is limited. We don’t yet know who they are or how quickly they might consume the hydrogen intended for storage. This is where the HyLife project comes in.
The HyLife Project: Exploring Microbial Impacts on Hydrogen Storage
The HyLife project aims to illuminate the microbial dynamics within potential hydrogen storage sites across Europe. Our mission is to sample, analyze, and characterize various locations, focusing specifically on the effects of microbial activity at each site. By harmonizing our methodologies across different laboratories, we can simultaneously process numerous samples and draw comprehensive comparisons.
Within the second workpackage of the project, we are collecting samples from different underground storage facilities. Along this workpackage, we intend to:
1) Getting Everyone on the Same Page: We’re organizing online workshops where each lab partner shares their methods. Our goal is to find procedures that work well for everyone. We’re covering areas like sampling, aligning chemical methods, standardizing DNA-based methods, discussing enrichments, and figuring out how to interpret data consistently.
2) Checking Our Methods with a Round-Robin Test: To make sure our methods align, we’re conducting a test. The main lab is creating a sample with known properties, sending sub-samples to each lab, and comparing the results. This helps us refine our techniques.
3) Continuous Improvement: We’re not stopping there. Every year, we’ll meet to review what we’ve learned, share insights, and keep making our methods better.
Sample Collection and Organization: We’re collecting water samples from different underground energy storage sites in Europe. This involves sampling liquids and rocks according to the methods defined in Task 2.1. We’re working closely with storage operators, managing samples between partners and labs, and ensuring we keep good track of everything.
In short, we’re making sure our methods work well for everyone and collecting samples effectively to advance our HyLife research project.