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Researchers Reveal Formula to Locate Natural Hydrogen Accumulated in the Earth’s Crust, With Potential to Supply the Planet for Millennia and Accelerate the Energy Transition.
Researchers have discovered a promising pathway to access natural hydrogen from the Earth, which could supply humanity for up to 170,000 years.
If proven, this revelation could represent a significant advance towards reducing emissions and the global energy transition.
Natural Hydrogen as a New Promising Energy Source
Over billions of years, the Earth’s crust has accumulated an abundance of hydrogen.
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The team of scientists from the University of Oxford, the University of Durham, and the University of Toronto has found a way to locate this resource more accurately.
They identified the geological elements necessary for the formation and preservation of natural hydrogen deposits, creating what they call an effective “exploration recipe.”
According to Professor Chris Ballentine from the University of Oxford, the developed formula could make natural hydrogen a viable and competitive source of low-carbon energy. “We have the necessary expertise to combine these ingredients and find this recipe,” he stated.
Tracking Hidden Hydrogen
Evidence suggests that hydrogen deposits are spread across various regions of the world.
In the United States, there are signs in at least 30 states. However, until now, the understanding of the location and volume of these reserves has been limited.
The new research proposes an approach based on fundamental principles.
Among the analyzed elements are the production rates of hydrogen, the types of rocks it forms in, how it moves, and the mechanisms that favor its preservation or loss.
Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto emphasized that even subterranean microbes can interfere with this process.
“We know, for example, that subterranean microbes easily feed on hydrogen. Avoiding environments that put them in contact with hydrogen is important for preserving hydrogen in economic accumulations,” she explained.
It’s Not Only in the Earth’s Mantle
The study also dispels a common myth. Many believe that practical sources of natural hydrogen only exist in the Earth’s mantle.
But researchers have shown that they can emerge in various types of rocks in the Earth’s crust. Some formations are relatively recent, only a few million years old.
Others are very old, with hundreds of millions of years. And most importantly: these conditions are common in different regions of the planet.
Towards a Trillion-Dollar Market
Hydrogen is currently a $135 billion industry. The expectation is that this number will grow significantly by 2050, potentially reaching trillions of dollars.
However, a large portion of the hydrogen used today comes from fossil sources, which generate about 2.4% of global CO₂ emissions.
In addition to serving as a clean fuel, hydrogen is essential for producing compounds like methanol and ammonia, widely used in agriculture and industry.
The discovery of a new method of exploration could be the key to accelerating the phase-out of fossil fuels.
The research shows that with the right technique, natural hydrogen could become a viable and clean alternative. The potential is enormous, and the path to harness it is now beginning to be unveiled.
The findings were published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment.
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