Unlocking the Mystery: New Study Reveals Where Geologists Can Find Elusive Gold Hydrogen

Hydrogen has a lot of promise as a clean fuel. However, most of the hydrogen we produce today comes from natural gas, which isn’t great for the environment. This creates a challenge for countries aiming to reduce their carbon footprints.

Scientists are working on producing “green hydrogen,” which is made from renewable energy sources. But some researchers are also looking for natural reserves of hydrogen underground, a concept called “gold hydrogen.” A recent study suggests that mountain ranges might be the best places to find these natural hydrogen reserves.

The study, published in Science Advances, highlights how mountain ranges have unique geological features that may lead to the accumulation of natural hydrogen. These areas contain large volumes of exhumed mantle rock, which comes into contact with water, creating favorable conditions for hydrogen generation.

Hydrogen fuels are clean because they only produce water vapor when burned. Yet, the process to create hydrogen often requires significant energy, mainly when using traditional methods that rely on natural gas. Currently, only a small fraction (0.1%) of hydrogen production is “green.” Most hydrogen falls into the “grey” category, indicating it’s produced from fossil fuels, which doesn’t help our emissions problem.

Researchers at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany are revealing that mountains could hold vast amounts of natural hydrogen. This new insight could support the global transition away from fossil fuels.

The study’s authors note that understanding where natural hydrogen can form is crucial. They emphasize the need to further explore how hydrogen migrates within the Earth and how it interacts with microorganisms that consume hydrogen. With advances in this field, we could potentially establish a new natural hydrogen industry.

In previous decades, many believed the Earth produced little hydrogen, making it economically unviable. However, the discovery of significant natural hydrogen reserves in Mali back in 2018 challenged this view. Experts are now investigating the depths of the Earth for these natural sources, which could be revolutionary.

The GFZ scientists used advanced plate tectonic modeling to simulate the conditions that lead to hydrogen formation in mountain regions. Their results indicate that the colder temperatures, larger volumes of mantle rock, and enhanced water circulation in these mountains make them ideal candidates for naturally occurring hydrogen.

This study suggests that areas within the Alpide belt—home to the Alps, Pyrenees, and Himalayas—can have hydrogen concentrations that are significantly higher than other geological settings. This could pave the way for extracting hydrogen more sustainably in the future.

Overall, researchers believe we may be at the beginning of a new chapter in natural hydrogen exploration. As techniques and strategies continue to develop, we could see exciting advancements in the quest for cleaner energy.