The hunt for a new kind of energy is on. Just like gold rushers in the 19th century, companies are now racing to find a natural energy source that could power our future.
Hydrogen is the holy grail. It’s expected to play a big role in reducing carbon emissions from industries like energy and steel production, and long-distance transportation. Now, attention is shifting to natural hydrogen found in the earth’s crust. This “golden hydrogen” can be extracted like other gases.
Scientists have known about natural hydrogen deposits for a while. A well in Mali has been producing almost pure hydrogen since 2012. But only recently did they discover there’s more of it than they thought. It’s created when iron-rich rock reacts with water.
France is now opening a huge mine that could supply humanity for thousands of years. The challenge is finding underground deposits with strong enough seals to capture large amounts of hydrogen. So far, only one such deposit has been proven and is being used commercially – in Mali.
By 2050, the demand for hydrogen will reach 430 million tons, according to the International Energy Agency. With an estimated five billion tons of natural hydrogen in reserves, we’d only need a small fraction to cover our energy needs for hundreds of years. This could be a lifesaver for industries that are hard to clean up.
The Mali deposit was discovered by accident in 1987 while drilling a water well. It was initially abandoned but reopened in 2011 to power a nearby village. After a successful pilot, a company started exploring the area and found 18 wells with positive hydrogen results.
There are pros and cons to using natural hydrogen. The main challenge is storing and transporting it, but that’s being worked on. If solved, this could be the energy breakthrough we need.
What’s next for natural hydrogen?
As companies continue to explore and develop natural hydrogen deposits, we can expect to see more breakthroughs. With the world’s energy demands increasing, finding new sources of clean energy is crucial. Natural hydrogen could be the answer.
Key players
- Hydroma Inc. (formerly Petroma Inc.)
- International Energy Agency (IEA)
The future of energy is uncertain, but one thing is clear – natural hydrogen is an exciting prospect. As technology improves and more deposits are discovered, we may see a significant shift in how we power our world.