Potential of white hydrogen to reshape global energy systems

EcoNews features in its article that the discovery and potential of white hydrogen is sparking a global energy revolution. 

The discovery of white hydrogen, a natural form found in Earth's crust, has generated worldwide excitement. This breakthrough could offer a cost-effective solution to the climate challenges associated with energy production, providing an incredibly sustainable energy source. Recent findings from France and the US have provided new evidence of its potential, marking the beginning of a clean energy revolution.

Researchers Jacques Pironon and Philippe De Donato from France’s National Centre of Scientific Research have likely discovered one of the largest white hydrogen reservoirs ever found. Using specialized equipment designed to study gases dissolved at depth, the team measured increasing hydrogen concentrations at greater drilling depths in northeast France's Lorraine mining basin.

At 1,100 meters, the sample showed 14 per cent hydrogen; by 1,250 meters, the hydrogen level rose to 20 per cent. Estimates for the total amount of white hydrogen in this reservoir range from 6 to 250 million metric tons.

This discovery opens up new possibilities for massive geological hydrogen systems, which have long been overlooked. Just five or six years ago, the idea of natural hydrogen was considered almost impossible. However, fields in regions like Mali have proven this notion wrong. The Bourakébougou well, which has been supplying hydrogen to an entire village for over a decade, sparked further interest in exploring these resources. Geoffrey Ellis, a geochemist at the US Geological Survey, aptly summarized the situation: “Not that hydrogen’s not available, but we haven’t been looking in the right places.”

White hydrogen is naturally formed through processes such as serpentinization, where water reacts with iron-rich rocks to produce hydrogen, and radiolysis, where radiation breaks down water molecules. Unlike gray or blue hydrogen, which involve energy-intensive processes and often rely on fossil fuels, white hydrogen is generated through natural formations in Earth's crust with minimal human intervention, making it a clean and renewable energy source.

This has been further validated by research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where Professor Iwnetim Abate's team is working to optimize hydrogen extraction from rocks. By developing advanced catalysts and high-throughput systems, they aim to analyze rocks efficiently, potentially identifying the ideal conditions for hydrogen production—such as temperature, pressure, and pH—and significantly reducing production costs.

By Naila Huseynova