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<img alt="An active fumerole in Iceland spews hydrogen sulfide gas." width="960" height="540" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/T7cgOlN2xlbhHWUPPYORng--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/4f991f833e954926fdec2d981ab23b3f">
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<p>Identifying hydrogen reservoirs within Earth's crust could accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. | Credit: Simon Dux via Alamy</p>
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<h2>Potential of Hydrogen Reservoirs</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Recent research indicates that significant hydrogen reservoirs might be present in numerous regions worldwide, including at least 30 states across the United States. The discovery of these reservoirs could play a pivotal role in expediting the global transition to renewable energy sources.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Historically, geologists have only understood the formation of large hydrogen accumulations in a fragmented manner. The focus has typically been on identifying regions where hydrogen has been released, collected, and stored. Understanding these aspects is critical as the world endeavors to move beyond fossil fuels.</p>
<h2>New Insights on Hydrogen Production</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">A recent review article has begun to clarify how vast amounts of hydrogen can form and accumulate in Earth's crust. The findings reveal that for the past billion years, the Earth's crust has produced enough hydrogen to satisfy current energy requirements for approximately 170,000 years. However, the main question remains regarding how much of this hydrogen can be effectively extracted and utilized.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The review outlines a comprehensive list of geological conditions that are conducive to the production and accumulation of natural hydrogen gas underground. Such insights are expected to facilitate the search for accessible hydrogen reservoirs.</p>
<h2>Exploration Initiatives</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The specifics of hydrogen gas accumulation discussed in the review are garnering interest from several exploration companies. Ventures like Koloma, supported by the Bill Gates Breakthrough Energy Fund, Hy-Terra, backed by Fortescue, and Snowfox, financed by BP and RioTinto, are diligently examining various geological environments to identify suitable conditions for hydrogen gas reservoirs.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The formation of natural hydrogen reservoirs requires three essential components: a hydrogen source, reservoir rocks, and natural seals to trap the gas underground. There are multiple natural processes capable of generating hydrogen, the simplest being the chemical reaction that divides water into hydrogen and oxygen. Any rock that facilitates at least one of these processes could potentially serve as a hydrogen source.</p>
<h2>Promising Geological Regions</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">One area that has generated significant attention is Kansas, where the mid-continental rift created around a billion years ago produces abundant basaltic rocks that can react with water to yield hydrogen gas. This region is now a focal point for identifying geological structures that may have accumulated hydrogen over time.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The review also indicates that tectonic stress and elevated heat in the Earth’s crust could facilitate the release of hydrogen, bringing it closer to the surface where it can accumulate into commercially exploitable resources. A diverse range of geological contexts holds promise for exploration, including ophiolite complexes, extensive igneous provinces, and Archaean greenstone belts.</p>
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<img alt="Closeup of ophiolitic rocks stained with iron in Italy." width="960" height="540" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/iyUKElSttwClDI3dEpL7uQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/live_science_953/baaf77cdd15c602f9174138417ce2698">
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<p>An ophiolitic landscape in Italy's Sondrio province. The rocks display high iron content, resulting in a reddish-brown hue. | Credit: Michele D'Amico supersky77/Getty Images</p>
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<h2>Understanding Geological Features</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Ophiolites, which are sections of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle previously located beneath the ocean, have emerged as a focal point for hydrogen exploration. Research in 2024 uncovered a significant hydrogen reservoir within an ophiolite complex located in Albania. Additionally, igneous rocks, which solidified from molten magma or lava, and Archaean greenstone belts—ancient geological formations that are billions of years old—are also prime candidates for containing hydrogen reservoirs.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Insights gained from the review serve as foundational principles for hydrogen exploration. The authors have delineated fundamental factors that companies should factor into their exploration strategies, including the processes that influence hydrogen migration or potential loss underground. Since some microorganisms are known to consume hydrogen, environments with these bacteria may not be suitable for finding substantial hydrogen reservoirs.</p>
<h2>Future of Hydrogen as an Energy Source</h2>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Hydrogen is increasingly recognized for its potential as an energy carrier. It plays a vital role in producing industrial chemicals like methanol and ammonia, the latter serving as a key ingredient in fertilizers. Moreover, hydrogen could significantly aid in the shift away from fossil fuels, powering vehicles and generating electricity without emitting carbon during consumption.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">Traditionally, hydrogen production has relied heavily on hydrocarbons, leading to considerable carbon emissions during its manufacture. In contrast, accessing 'clean' hydrogen from subsurface reservoirs presents an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint significantly, as this form of hydrogen exists naturally.</p>
<p class="mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words">The Earth is believed to have abundant hydrogen resources within its crust, and the ongoing task is to effectively locate and extract this essential resource.</p>
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