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Study reveals that trillions of tons of geological hydrogen, present underground, could become a primary source of clean and sustainable energy for more than a thousand years.
A recent study revealed that trillions of tons of hydrogen natural are hidden underground in the Earth.
The discovery, led by geochemist Geoffrey Ellis of the US Geological Survey (USGS), may indicate that about 5,6 trillion metric tons of this gas may be trapped in underground rocks and reservoirs around the planet.
If confirmed, this amount would be enough to supply humanity's energy needs for at least 1.000 years.
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Even if only a small fraction of this hydrogen were harnessed, researchers estimate it would be enough to drastically reduce global dependence on fossil fuels.
How hydrogen is formed
Natural hydrogen, also known as geological hydrogen, is produced by natural geochemical processes.
The combination of chemical reactions between rocks and water, over millennia, generates this colorless and highly energetic gas.
Unlike industrially obtained hydrogen, which is costly and energy-intensive, geological hydrogen is found in its natural form, ready for use.
So far, it has been identified in a few places in the world, such as Albania and Mali. In these countries, small reserves have already been found and analyzed.
However, the study suggests that these occurrences are just the surface of a much larger potential, spread globally.
Global potential and access limitations
According to the study published in the journal Science Advances, the geological hydrogen potential on the planet ranges from 103 to 1010 million metric tons.
The most likely value is approximately 5,6 million metric tons (Mt), equivalent to the weight of 3,7 million cars or 1,56 billion flamingos, as the authors highlight.
However, not all reserves are easily accessible. Many of them are at extreme depths or in locations far from the coast, which would make their extraction economically unviable.
Furthermore, some of the reserves may be too small to justify exploration.
Despite these limitations, scientists say there is enough hydrogen underground to meet global energy needs.
Even if only 2% of this gas were harnessed, it would be able to sustain the planet for approximately 200 years, keeping carbon emissions close to zero.
Hydrogen as a low-carbon alternative
Hydrogen energy is considered a clean and promising alternative. When used as a fuel, it releases only water vapor as a byproduct, which makes it a resource with low environmental impact.
According to the study, underground hydrogen has an impressive energy density: approximately 1,4 × 1016 megajoules (MJ), more than all proven reserves of natural gas, estimated at 8,4 × 1015 MJ.
For researchers, exploring the potential of geological hydrogen could be an effective way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
However, the study highlights the need for more research to better understand the distribution, behavior and extraction mechanisms of this natural resource.
Forecasting model
Scientists have created a model to estimate the size of global reserves. This model combines data on the occurrence and behavior of hydrogen with known geological information. This allows them to predict the existence of large underground reservoirs spread across the world.
Geoffrey Ellis, lead author of the study, explained to Live Science that the projections are optimistic, but not definitive.
"It is possible that most of this hydrogen remains inaccessible, but it is still an extraordinary amount.”, said the researcher.
New research on the horizon
The discovery paves the way for a more sustainable future, but it also raises important questions.
What are the best methods for extracting natural hydrogen without harming the environment? How can the process be made economical and efficient? These are some of the questions that should guide future research.
With such a significant amount of energy hidden beneath our feet, geological hydrogen emerges as a real hope for a world seeking sustainable, low-carbon energy solutions.
Hydrogen is used for the Earth to float in the sky and should not be taken for consumption. If you want, you can take the hydrogen that is in the sky. But not for the Earth.
It's more a question of gravitational force, the fact that the earth is in its orbit and the gravitational force of an object comes from its total mass...
How we miss those times when people were afraid of embarrassing themselves by talking nonsense... Whose Earth should float in the sky? And does the Earth's sky need to float in that same sky, or can we remove the hydrogen and let the sky sink?
… That must be why the Sun (composed mostly of hydrogen) floats above the flat Earth…
Unbelievable lol
Stupidity has no limits… lol
Haha ...
Where did you get this information? The Earth "floats in a vacuum due to all the gravitational forces existing in our solar system, among others. It has nothing to do with the presence of gases.
The Earth is not floating, nor is it stationary. It is moving at high speed in orbit around the star called the Sun. Other planets in our solar system are orbiting around the same star called the Sun. This star, the Sun, is moving at high speed in an orbit within the Milky Way, which is our galaxy, and so on. There is nothing stationary or floating…
The balloon floats in the air period.
I understand, most planets and other stars are composed of certain gases since the foundation of the world, in fact depending on the quantity that alters its composition, removing parts, if it is in very significant values this can affect the functioning that is seen today, apparently normal in its voluntary and induced cycles in the Universal system.
If the earth stops “floating”, where will it fall? lol
You are confusing it with Helium which has a softer molar mass. LOL
Oh, are you crazy? Vote
I liked the comments, but I was intrigued by one thing, no one remembered that God is the one who administers this globe 🌎.
That God... the universe exists. Nature has its laws, man just needs to conform to them. Man created a God and said that he is the owner of all of this. lol
Feb 14, 2020 — “The more I believe in science, the more I believe in God.” “The universe is inexplicable without God.” – Albert Einstein, Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921.