Fossil fuel researchers in northeastern France stumbled upon a large hydrogen deposit. Initial estimates suggest this could be one of the world’s largest “white hydrogen” deposits.
The potential volume ranges from 6 million to 250 million metric tons. White hydrogen, also known as “natural,” “gold,” or “geologic” hydrogen, forms naturally in Earth’s crust. It is a prospective source of clean energy.
The Spectrum Of Hydrogen Types and the Potential of White Hydrogen
- Hydrogen is abundant in the universe but usually combined with other molecules.
- Commercial hydrogen production is energy-intensive, mostly powered by fossil fuels.
- Different types of hydrogen are identified using a color system.
- “Gray” hydrogen originates from methane gas, while “brown” comes from coal.
- “Blue” hydrogen is similar to gray, but the environmental pollution produced is captured before it enters the atmosphere.
- The most climate-friendly type is “green” hydrogen, produced using Electrolysis to divide water. However, it’s currently produced on a small scale and is expensive.
- Recently, there’s increased interest in white hydrogen due to its potential as a clean, abundant energy source.
- Compared to green, gray, brown, or black hydrogen, white hydrogen has multiple advantages:
- It produces no CO2 emissions when used as fuel.
- It is compatible with existing hydrogen production and utilization technologies.
- It’s more cost-effective and efficient than steam reforming or electrolysis.
- It’s abundant and renewable.
White Hydrogen: Potential and Challenges
- Deposits of white hydrogen have been found across the globe, including the US, eastern Europe, Russia, Australia, Oman, France, and Mali.
- Some of these deposits were discovered accidentally, while others were found through active search.
- The estimated global reserves could be in the tens of billions of tons, potentially exceeding current and future production rates.
- However, the economic viability of extracting all these reserves remains uncertain.
- Startups are seizing the opportunity.
- An example is Australia-based Gold Hydrogen, which is drilling in the Yorke Peninsula due to high hydrogen concentrations discovered in boreholes from the 1920s.
- Similarly, companies like Koloma and Natural Hydrogen Energy have attracted significant investments and are actively exploring white hydrogen sources.
- Despite the immense potential, obstacles such as regulatory hurdles in specific countries, cost considerations, and drilling depth requirements can significantly affect the feasibility of extracting white hydrogen.