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breakthrough hydrogen discovery may
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sustain Earth's energy for 170,000
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years scientists have discussed using
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hydrogen as a possible green energy
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source for centuries as climate change
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ravages the planet researchers
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desperately need alternative renewable
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energy sources according to the World
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0.1% of all the world's hydrogen is
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currently considered green a
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groundbreaking study has discovered that
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Earth's continental crust holds enough
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naturally occurring hydrogen to power
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modern society for 170,000 years
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published in Nature Reviews Earth and
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Environment this finding could transform
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clean energy's future while some
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hydrogen may be inaccessible scientists
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estimate thousands of years of potential
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Earth scientists have developed an
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exploration recipe to identify where
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natural hydrogen can be economically
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extracted their approach combines
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geology chemistry and biology to find
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the best underground hydrogen reserves
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key requirements include hydrogen
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presence suitable reservoir rocks and
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geological seals to trap the
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gas clean hydrogen forms when water
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reacts with ironrich rocks deep
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underground through serpentinization
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this process occurs at temperatures
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752° F releasing hydrogen gas that
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travels through porous rocks until
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trapped by impermeable layers like shale
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salt scientists must also monitor and
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analyze the various factors that
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contribute to depleting these natural
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reserves underground microbes can
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consume hydrogen altering gas mixtures
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and reducing available
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amounts kansas has increasingly emerged
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as a central hub for innovative hydrogen
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energy research and exploration efforts
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sitting at top an ancient
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mid-continental rift with ironbearing
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rocks the state has shown promising
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hydrogen generation the Sue Dur Ro three
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well recently recorded hydrogen levels
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samples companies like PureWave Hydrogen
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and Coloma are mapping Kansas to
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identify the most promising extraction
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sites their efforts could establish a
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new clean hydrogen industry in North
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America beyond Kansas scientists
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discovered the largest known hydrogen
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reserve in Albania's Bulkaz mine in
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2024 where at least 200 tons of hydrogen
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escape annually creating hydrogen
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jacuzzi's of nearly pure
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gas researchers Valentine and Gluas are
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also focused on finding hidden helium
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reserves in a 2023 paper they adapted
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petroleum exploration principles to
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locate source rocks rich in uranium and
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thorium which produce helium over
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billions of years their work has led to
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discoveries in Tanzania's Rukqua Basin
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where wells show high helium
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concentrations yellowstone National Park
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also shows promise with up to 73 tons of
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helium escaping annually from its hot
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the discovery of vast clean hydrogen
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reserves within Earth's crust represents
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a transformative opportunity for global
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energy this zero emission alternative
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could power industries transportation
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and homes for millennia with continued
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research into extraction methods and
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targeted exploration clean hydrogen
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could play a vital role in achieving a
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sustainable future and meeting the
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world's growing energy needs
