Imagine a world powered by a resource hidden beneath our feet. Researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Durham, and Toronto have unveiled a groundbreaking approach to tap into natural hydrogen reserves within the Earth's crust. This discovery, detailed in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, could revolutionize our energy landscape.
Currently, industrial hydrogen production relies heavily on hydrocarbons, contributing significantly to global carbon emissions. The new study suggests the Earth's continental crust has generated enough hydrogen gas over the last billion years to meet global energy needs for 170,000 years. While some of this hydrogen has been lost, the remaining amount presents a substantial opportunity.
The team has proposed an exploration strategy to identify economically viable deposits. Professor Jon Gluyas from the University of Durham stated, "We have developed with success an exploration strategy for the helium and a similar approach of 'basic principles' can be adopted for the hydrogen". This involves understanding the geological systems that generate, transport, and preserve hydrogen.
A crucial aspect is avoiding areas where subterranean organisms consume hydrogen. Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto explained, "We know, for example, that subterranean microbes feed easily on hydrogen. Avoiding environments that put them in contact with the hydrogen is important to preserve it in the economic accumulations". This discovery paves the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
The researchers have even established Snowfox Discovery Ltd. to locate commercially valuable geological hydrogen deposits. Professor Chris Ballentine from the University of Oxford likened the process to cooking a soufflé, emphasizing the need for a precise and repeatable recipe for successful exploration. This could democratize access to a strategic energy source globally.