The race for clean energy is heating up, and a new player has emerged: white hydrogen. This naturally occurring form of hydrogen, also known as geologic hydrogen, is gaining attention due to recent discoveries in France and the United States. Unlike blue and green hydrogen, which are produced through energy-intensive processes, white hydrogen is a wild card that could provide a cleaner and potentially cheaper alternative. But there's a catch: the cost and technical challenges of accessing these resources are still unknown, leaving the future of white hydrogen uncertain.
White hydrogen is formed when underground water encounters iron-rich rocks, a process called serpentinization. This natural process creates hydrogen, which is so light that it seeps through porous rocks and rises to the atmosphere. However, in some cases, hydrogen can become trapped under rocks with low permeability, leading to its accumulation. If researchers can understand where and how this natural hydrogen accumulates, they could unlock a vast resource.
A 2024 U.S. Geological Survey study estimates that there could be anywhere from 1 billion to 10 trillion tonnes of hydrogen in the subsurface. This potential treasure trove could provide a much-needed clean energy source. The global demand for low-carbon hydrogen is expected to skyrocket to nearly 200 million tonnes per annum by 2050, from just 1 million tonnes today. But the high cost of producing green hydrogen, ranging from $6 to $12 per kilogram, has companies looking for alternatives.
White hydrogen, if mined efficiently, could be a game-changer. It's estimated that white hydrogen produced at scale from reservoirs near end-users could cost below $1 per kilogram. This makes it a potentially cheaper and cleaner alternative to green hydrogen, which relies on natural gas rather than renewable energy. However, the only operational white hydrogen project is in Mali, providing electricity to a small village, and investment is still limited due to the lack of knowledge about resource exploitation.
Things are changing. In France, scientists discovered white hydrogen deposits in abandoned mines in the Lorraine region in May 2023. Further exploration in the nearby Moselle has uncovered additional reserves, valued at approximately $92 billion. In the United States, Oklahoma State University researchers secured funding to explore white hydrogen reserves, leveraging the state's existing infrastructure as a crude oil producer. These discoveries and investments signal a growing interest in white hydrogen.
The key to unlocking white hydrogen's potential lies in understanding its geology. Mantle8, a geological research company, is using innovative technology to create 4D images of the Earth's mantle, helping to pinpoint white hydrogen reservoirs. This technology could revolutionize the industry, but it's still in its early stages. As Eric Gaucher, a French geochemist, suggests, a commercially viable discovery could spark a new era of exploration, but he also cautions that the role of natural hydrogen in the global green transition should be approached with caution.
The future of white hydrogen is full of promise and uncertainty. While it offers a cleaner and potentially cheaper energy source, significant challenges remain. The lack of knowledge about hydrogen formation and access methods is a major hurdle. However, with continued research and development, white hydrogen could become a viable alternative to traditional energy sources, contributing to a more sustainable future.
