Methane as a Greenhouse Gas: Capture, Underground Storage, Utilization, and Impacts

Abstract

Given methane’s high energy content and global warming potential, underground methane storage (UMS) offers a promising strategy for both energy security and greenhouse gas reduction. This review examines methane capture, storage, and utilization, with a focus on its physicochemical behavior in geological media. Key topics include capture technologies, methane’s physical and chemical properties, storage formations, and end uses like grid balancing and energy recovery. The review also identifies research gaps and discusses the future role of UMS in climate and energy solutions. Despite existing challenges, UMS is highlighted as essential for enhancing energy security, lowering emissions, and supporting the global energy transition.