A Giant Leap for the Hydrogen Industry: Renewable Energy from Rocks

While renewables have shown substantial growth, contributing around 13% to the global energy mix in 2022, the path to a fossil-free future remains fraught with challenges. In the face of this ongoing struggle, a groundbreaking discovery offers a glimmer of hope: geologic hydrogen. This naturally occurring resource represents a new frontier in the quest for clean energy, potentially reshaping our approach to sustainable power generation.

Geologic hydrogen, also known as natural, white, or gold hydrogen, refers to hydrogen gas which is produced by natural geological processes and is found in its natural form in underground deposits. Conventional “gray hydrogen,” is produced from fossil fuels, so significant amounts of carbon dioxide are emitted during its production. But geologic hydrogen occurs naturally, and as it produces only water vapor when burned, it’s a potential game-changer in the fight against climate change. Moreover, the production of renewable energy technologies relies on minerals which are often in limited supply. In contrast, geologic, or “white” could overcome these limitations and require less land and water than any other method of producing hydrogen, offering a promising possibility for a sustainable energy future.”

A groundbreaking study by the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a staggering five trillion tons of naturally occurring hydrogen lies hidden beneath the Earth’s surface. Dr. Geoffrey Ellis, a research geologist at the U.S.Geological Survey and the lead investigator of the study, put the findings into perspective: “Even though much of this hydrogen may be out of reach, tapping into even a small percentage could meet global energy demand for centuries.”

The quest for natural hydrogen, often dubbed “gold hydrogen,” is gaining global momentum. Significant deposits have been identified across diverse terrains in several continents— from the Australian outback to the deserts of Oman, from southern Brazil to the plains of North America. Let’s explore some of the most prominent examples. In May 2024, Gold Hydrogen, an Australian exploration company, reported a significant discovery of geologic hydrogen at their Ramsay Project on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula. They found natural hydrogen with a remarkable purity of up to 95.8%, one of the highest purities of natural hydrogen discovered to date. In May 2023, a groundbreaking discovery in the Lorraine region of northeastern France sparked excitement in the sustainable energy sector. Scientists announced the discovery of what may be the largest known deposit of natural hydrogen to date.