Vast white hydrogen reserve discovered hidden beneath the Earth’s surface

A surprising find beneath the rolling terrain of northeastern France may help shift the global energy balance. Deep underground, scientists have discovered a vast natural supply of hydrogen that could offer a powerful new tool for fighting climate change.

The discovery was made by Jacques Pironon and Philippe de Donato, researchers from France’s National Centre of Scientific Research and the GeoRessources Laboratory. Their team had been studying methane levels in the Lorraine mining basin, once home to a bustling coal industry. But their custom-built probe, designed to track gases in underground water, revealed something far more promising.

“Our data indicates that the ground under the Lorraine mining basin is very rich in white hydrogen,” de Donato said. “If confirmed, this discovery could be a big step forward in the transition towards clean, climate-friendly energy sources.”

Their probe found that hydrogen concentrations grew stronger with depth. At 1,100 meters, readings showed 14% hydrogen. Deeper still, at 1,250 meters, the level rose to 20%. Based on those figures, scientists now estimate the basin could hold between six million and 250 million metric tons of hydrogen.

This form of hydrogen, known as “white hydrogen,” occurs naturally within the Earth’s crust. It forms through slow chemical reactions between water and certain types of rock, making it a clean and renewable energy source that doesn’t require carbon-heavy processing.

Unlike the hydrogen created in factories, white hydrogen doesn’t release pollutants when burned. It produces only water vapor. That makes it a strong candidate for decarbonizing industries like aviation, shipping, and steel production—sectors that struggle to use solar or wind power efficiently.

Hydrogen comes in different “colors,” based on how it’s made. Gray hydrogen is produced from methane gas. Brown comes from coal. Blue hydrogen includes carbon capture to reduce emissions. But white hydrogen, found naturally and requiring no emissions to extract, could be the cleanest of them all.

Green hydrogen, the most environmentally friendly, is produced by splitting water using renewable energy. However, green hydrogen production remains expensive and small-scale, limiting its current utility.

White hydrogen, by contrast, is naturally occurring and requires no energy-intensive extraction process. This quality has elevated its profile as a potential cornerstone of the clean energy transition.

Geoffrey Ellis, a geochemist at the US Geological Survey, points out that just a decade ago, natural hydrogen was considered implausible. However, groundbreaking discoveries, including one in Mali, have changed this perspective.

In 2011, a water well in the Malian village of Bourakébougou emitted gas that turned out to be 98% hydrogen. This find challenged conventional wisdom, showing that white hydrogen deposits could exist in abundance across the globe. Ellis estimates there could be tens of billions of tons of white hydrogen underground.

Even if only 1% of this resource is recoverable, it could provide 500 million tons annually for two centuries. For comparison, global hydrogen production currently stands at just 100 million tons per year.

The potential of white hydrogen has inspired a wave of startups dedicated to exploring and commercializing this resource. In South Australia, Gold Hydrogen is drilling in regions where historical boreholes revealed high hydrogen concentrations. Neil McDonald, the company’s managing director, is optimistic that early production could begin as soon as 2024.

Denver-based Koloma has raised $91 million, including funding from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, founded by Bill Gates. Although Koloma operates under tight secrecy, its rapid progress toward commercialization underscores the growing interest in white hydrogen.

Natural Hydrogen Energy, also based in Denver, has already drilled exploratory boreholes in Nebraska. Its founder, Viacheslav Zgonnik, believes the world is on the brink of its first commercial white hydrogen projects.

Despite its promise, white hydrogen faces challenges. Regulatory uncertainties and cost concerns could affect its widespread adoption.

Current estimates suggest that production costs for white hydrogen could be as low as $1 per kilogram, significantly cheaper than green hydrogen, which costs around $6 per kilogram. However, accessing deeper reservoirs may increase costs, highlighting the need for technological advances to make extraction economically viable.

Geologists have identified several natural processes responsible for white hydrogen formation. One is serpentinization, a chemical reaction between water and certain types of rocks that produces hydrogen.

Another is radiolysis, where radioactive elements break down water molecules, releasing hydrogen. These processes occur globally, with deposits identified in countries such as the United States, Russia, Australia, Oman, and France.

The growing interest in white hydrogen has intensified efforts to locate and study these reservoirs. As technology improves, the possibility of efficiently harnessing this resource becomes more tangible. The environmental benefits of white hydrogen are clear—it offers a way to transition away from fossil fuels while maintaining the energy output needed for industrial operations.

Ellis highlights the transformative potential of white hydrogen, emphasizing that even modest recovery rates could drastically alter global energy dynamics. However, he also warns that commercializing this resource will require significant investment and innovation.

White hydrogen represents not just a scientific breakthrough but a potential game changer for addressing climate change. Its abundance, clean-burning properties, and potential affordability position it as a critical resource in the quest for sustainable energy.

As researchers and companies continue to explore this promising frontier, the dream of a hydrogen-powered future comes closer to reality.

White hydrogen has the potential to be a clean and sustainable alternative to fossil fuels, as it produces only water vapor when burned. This makes it an attractive option for various applications, including:

Transportation: White hydrogen can be used to power fuel cell vehicles, which offer zero tailpipe emissions and have a longer range than electric vehicles. It is particularly well-suited for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and buses, where electrification may be more challenging.

Industrial processes: White hydrogen can be used in industrial processes such as steel and cement production, which are currently major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Replacing fossil fuels with white hydrogen in these industries could significantly reduce their carbon footprint.

Energy storage: White hydrogen can be stored and transported, making it a potential solution for storing energy from renewable sources like solar and wind power. This would allow for the utilization of renewable energy even when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing.

Power generation: White hydrogen can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells or hydrogen turbines. This could provide a clean and sustainable alternative to power generation from fossil fuels.

As we continue to explore and harness this untapped resource, we may be witnessing the dawn of a new era in clean energy production, with the potential to reshape entire industries and mitigate the looming climate crisis.

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