With Earth’s hidden treaure researched to be hidden close to Earth’s core, it is a certainty why America is looking to extract this treasure. Thanks to scientists and lead author of the study, Chris Ballentine, a clean carbon-free gas discovery was made which proves that vast quantities of this special gas lies beneath Earth’s crust. Should we be able to tap into this potential it means that enough of this gas was generated over the past billion years. It also means that this energy generated could provide power to humanity for the next 170,000 years.
Changing how we access the natural gas beneath Earth’s crust
Thus far, hydrogen has always been known to be produced by man in a process whereby water molecules get split by using electricity and fossil fuels. Reality is that there is a discovery of large reservoirs of naturally occurring hydrogen or “white hydrogen” within the folds of Earth’s crust.
The discovery hinting at the potential of extracting natural hydrogen is the root reason why America has plans for this naturally occurring hydrogen. With the help of researchers from Oxford University, Durham University, and the University of Toronto, the recipe for finding natural hydrogen was published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment. When going in search of hydrogen sources, porous rocks and geological seals that trap the natural hydrogen underground are key considerations.
Although natural hydrogen forms mainly when water and iron-rich rocks interact, this pure hydrogen can mostly be found in ancient rift zones. Clean hydrogen could be produced by Earth’s crust.
As per the study, America is closer to harnessing hidden treasure
A further interesting aspect of the study was that about 30 U.S. states were mentioned to have favorable geological conditions for hydrogen accumulation. Bill Gates-backed company, Koloma, and Hy-Terra are investing in such an exploration. BP and Rio Tinto have also made their appearance providing funding for startups such as Snowfox devoted to finding hydrogen traps. One of the main areas to consider is Kansas that could have generated massive volumes of hydrogen. Potential hydrogen traps can be located; however, it is up to us to follow the recipe to find them.
Looking at the larger picture in terms of global hydrogen
It is not just America looking to extract naturally occurring hydrogen. France, Australia, and Albania are also considering underground reservoirs of hydrogen, particularly that which was found in an ophiolite complex.
The potential is immense, however, microbes in the ground are feeding on hydrogen which in turn reduces how much energy is recovered. At this stage, it is far too early to tell how much hydrogen can be extracted from the Earth in a profitable way and what other challenges lay ahead.
Researchers are nevertheless optimistic about a clean energy future. One that perhaps does not have to entail experts converting sea water into hydrogen to produce a ‘new color of hydrogen‘. With hydrogen in existence, we just need to find these sources of naturally occurring hydrogen.
Could a clean energy future be powered by natural hydrogen?
Perhaps the research has pointed out the fact that hydrogen will no longer need to be made from natural gas or coal. Natural hydrogen promises that no greenhouse gases will be emitted. The impact that pure hydrogen can have on a sustainable energy future is clear. Tapping into natural reserves could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and reduce emissions fully.
The beauty part is that should we tap into this clean hydrogen potential, experts will no longer have to look at projects that turn nuclear surplus into hydrogen. However, thanks to the partnership between Nel and Samsung C&T, pink hydrogen was produced for the first time in history. To date, the clean hydrogen potential in existence remains hidden and could be one of the best kept secrets of the planet.
To get more information about this discovery, you can consult the full study here: Ballentine, C.J., Karolytė, R., Cheng, A. et al. Natural hydrogen resource accumulation in the continental crust. Nat Rev Earth Environ 6, 342–356 (2025).
