Massive Amount of Clean Energy: Earth Could Store 170,000 Years of Hydrogen Energy

In a world grappling with the challenges of climate change, a new frontier in energy production is emerging. The hunt for Earth's hidden hydrogen reservoirs is gaining momentum, with major energy players and startups racing to tap into this virtually unlimited, zero-carbon energy source.

Hydrogen isn't sitting idly in the ground; it's being produced and emitted by geological processes. Certain rocks, such as iron-rich minerals like olivine and pyroxene in basalt, react with water to produce hydrogen. If even a small percentage of Earth's hydrogen reserves are accessible, it could power human civilization for centuries to come.

The biggest challenge in using hydrogen as a primary energy source has been harvesting it inexpensively enough to compete with oil and gas. However, a pioneering review in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment has provided a "recipe" for finding hydrogen reservoirs. The research presents three essential ingredients in a successful hydrogen reservoir: a hydrogen source, reservoir rocks, and natural seals.

Scientists are refining their models to predict where the biggest hydrogen deposits lie. High heat flow and tectonic stress deep within Earth's crust could force hydrogen towards the surface, where it would build up in traps. Porous formations like sandstone store the hydrogen gas, making them promising sites for extraction.

One of the most promising sites for hydrogen is the Mid-Continent Rift in Kansas. Major energy players, including Koloma (backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy), HyTerra (funded by Fortescue), and Snowfox (supported by BP and Rio Tinto), are racing to find hydrogen deposits in various locations such as the U.S. Midwest, Australia, Europe, the Arctic, and oceanic sources.

Impermeable layers such as clay or salt prevent hydrogen from escaping. Underground microbes can consume hydrogen, turning it into water or methane, which means explorers must target sterile, oxygen-free environments where hydrogen hasn't been devoured by microbial life.

The next decade will be critical as exploration companies are now using AI, seismic imaging, and drone surveys to locate hydrogen seeps. France and Spain have launched national hydrogen mapping projects, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is assessing domestic potential.

Private industry involvement is increasing, as shown by the USA's transition from secondary helium (a byproduct of natural gas) to primary helium extraction from dedicated fields. Companies like Pulsar Helium are involved in searching for hydrogen-related (and helium) reservoirs, focusing especially on acquiring rights to non-hydrocarbon gas fields in Minnesota, USA, within the Superior Craton geological region known for its ancient rocks rich in uranium and thorium, which generate helium over billions of years.

Europe, including Germany, focuses more on renewable energy and biomethane production rather than hydrogen reservoirs per se. However, the potential of hydrogen as a zero-carbon energy source is undeniable, and the world may be on the verge of an energy revolution, one fueled not by fossil fuels but by Earth's own hidden chemistry. If successful, this could mark a significant step towards a sustainable future.

Massive Amount of Clean Energy: Earth Could Store 170,000 Years of Hydrogen Energy