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BBC News
6 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
The precious 'white gold' buried in the Earth
Naturally occurring "white hydrogen" lies in vast reservoirs beneath our feet – now the gold rush of the clean energy era is beginning. Investors had lost faith in Edwin Drake's obsessive hunt for oil when the American entrepreneur finally struck black gold in an underground reservoir in Titusville, Pennsylvania, in 1859. The discovery spurred an exploration frenzy that launched the modern oil age. Now, a new generation of wildcatters are racing to replicate that Titusville moment, hoping to bring about the dawn of a major new energy resource. However, it's not fossil fuels they are looking for, but a commercially viable source of natural – and low-carbon – hydrogen. Hydrogen, the smallest, simplest and lightest molecule on Earth, is currently used mainly for refining and chemical industries, such as producing ammonia for fertilisers. The vast majority of this hydrogen is made from polluting methane gas or coal gasification. But there are already other, lower-carbon ways to produce hydrogen. And hydrogen's ability to store three times more energy than oil, while only producing water when burnt, has made some view it as an attractive clean fuel option, especially for industries which are hard to decarbonise by electrification, such as aviation, shipping or steel production. "Green" hydrogen, for example, is a cleaner alternative made by splitting water between hydrogen and oxygen molecules in a process powered by renewable energy. "Blue" hydrogen, made from fossil fuels using carbon capture and storage to reduce the emissions, is another alternative. Green and blue hydrogen have received huge attention as potential low-carbon fuels in recent years, but they also have significant downsides. Both are expensive and faced challenges and delays in their rollout. And while their use is slowly growing, together they still only make up around 1% of global hydrogen production. Some researchers have also raised doubts over how low-carbon blue hydrogen really is due to associated leaks of methane – a potent greenhouse gas which is 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 20-year time span. Meanwhile, in recent years scientists have found that naturally occurring hydrogen is actually much more widespread than previously thought, leading some to believe it could be tapped as a cheap and carbon-free fuel. This "geologic" hydrogen, also called natural or white hydrogen, is produced naturally when underground water encounters iron-rich rocks in a process known as serpentinisation. Because hydrogen is so light, it usually seeps through porous rocks and cracks, eventually rising to the atmosphere. That's if it isn't first consumed in underground reactions or eaten by subterranean microbes. But in some geological settings, hydrogen can become trapped under rocks with low permeability, such as salt or shale rocks, which create a seal under which the gas can accumulate. It's these hydrogen accumulations in the Earth's subsurface that prospectors hope may be viable for commercial exploitation. According to a 2024 study from the US Geological Survey (USGS), there could be anywhere between one billion and 10 trillion tonnes of hydrogen in the subsurface, with a best guess of around 5.6 trillion tonnes trapped in geological formations. Most of this hydrogen is likely to be "in accumulations that are too deep, too far offshore, or too small to be economically recovered", the study's authors, USGS geologists Geoffrey Ellis and Sarah Gelman, wrote. However, if just 2% of this white hydrogen was recoverable, it could meet projected global hydrogen demand for around 200 years, they found. It would also, they added, contain roughly twice as much energy as is stored in all the proven natural gas reserves on Earth. The idea has sparked huge interest in what could be lying under our feet. At least 60 companies have publicly said they are exploring for white hydrogen, with investment estimated to have reached $1bn (£740m), says Eric Gaucher, a French geochemist who co-leads a white hydrogen expert group convened by the International Energy Agency (IEA). "That's more or less a rush," he says. Gaucher left a job at oil giant Total four years ago and now runs an independent consultancy advising companies "who want to win the race for natural hydrogen". Exploratory drilling, he notes, has already taken place in Australia and the US. Prospectors like Gaucher argue the discovery of a commercially viable hydrogen reservoir could usher in a new age of exploration in the same way that Drake's 1859 find fired the starting gun for the oil economy. "The hope is to make a big discovery in the next three or four years," he says. "My dream is that this natural hydrogen can play a role, maybe as oil played in the past." Still, Gaucher admits prospectors should currently remain "modest" about white hydrogen's potential role in the energy transition. Not least because huge uncertainties remain about how much of it could actually be recoverable from the Earth's mantle. "Currently, we really have no idea," says Ellis, of the USGS. "That's the big question. From what we know today, there's just too much uncertainty to really make any predictions about how impactful [natural hydrogen] might be." The only place where white hydrogen extracted from the Earth is currently used is in the village of Bourakebougou in western Mali. The local community's fate changed in 1987 when the cigarette of a worker digging a water well sparked a small explosion as he leaned over the edge. Nearly pure hydrogen was later found at the bottom of the borehole. It is now used to produce electricity for the village. Odourless, colourless and tasteless, hydrogen is difficult to detect without specifically looking for it. But in early 2025, a team of geologists announced they found a clue for where to start looking. Using simulations of plate tectonic processes, they showed that rocks that had been pushed closer to the surface during the formation of mountains could be hotspots for white hydrogen. The researchers identified mountain ranges stretching from the Alps to the Himalayas as possible targets for exploration. Other researchers in the UK and Canada recently published a list of key ingredients needed to find hydrogen-producing underground systems. "We know for example that underground microbes readily feast on hydrogen," study co-author Barbara Sherwood Lollar, a professor of geology at the University of Toronto, said in a release. "Avoiding environments that bring them into contact with the hydrogen is important in preserving hydrogen in economic accumulations." Although exploration of white hydrogen has been gathering steam, no commercially viable wells have yet been found. In its 2024 global hydrogen review, the IEA described white hydrogen production technology as scoring five out of nine on its technology readiness scale. There is also still insufficient evidence to prove white hydrogen is even a renewable resource for use at scale, says Laurent Truche, a professor of geochemistry at Grenoble Alpes University in France who researches natural hydrogen. That's because it's not clear whether or not hydrogen is generated quickly enough to replace any that might be extracted from reservoirs. Truche says the rate of hydrogen generation is "several orders of magnitude too slow compared to what we would expect to produce". He worries about the hype, noting that "natural hydrogen production is currently tiny, the hydrogen that is found is rarely pure, [and] many discoveries are of dissolved gas, which is difficult to produce". Naturally produced hydrogen is also unlikely to be located where it is needed and hydrogen is difficult to transport and store, although proponents told the BBC it could support fuel sovereignty by powering local industries. But extracting white hydrogen could also come with unintended consequences, including impacts on the climate that could undo some of the benefits of replacing fossil fuels. Hydrogen reservoirs can contain methane, which could offset the benefits of white hydrogen unless it were captured. What's more, once in the atmosphere, hydrogen competes with methane for hydroxyl, a compound which breaks down methane molecules. This means that any hydrogen that escapes during extraction would also make methane in the atmosphere last longer and cause even more warming. These methane emissions, alongside the emissions embedded in drilling infrastructure, mean white hydrogen production wouldn't be totally carbon free. One initial estimate suggests that, in cases where reservoirs have a high percentage of hydrogen and low amounts of methane, 0.4kg of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) would be emitted for every kilogram of hydrogen produced. That's less than the average 1.6kg CO2e generated with each kilogram of green hydrogen, which requires the construction of vast renewable energy infrastructure. However, emissions associated with white hydrogen production would increase the more methane is in the reservoir and the less productive the well becomes. A well with 75% hydrogen and 22.5% methane would emit 1.5 kg CO2e per kg of hydrogen, according to the same study. White hydrogen proponents tell the BBC that methane emissions can be filtered, while extracting and burning hydrogen as a fuel would reduce the amount that naturally leaks to the surface and reaches the atmosphere. But Truche disagrees. Large-scale white hydrogen production would lead to increased hydrogen leakage into the atmosphere, he says. It could also impact underground ecosystems and the microbial life that rely on hydrogen as an energy source, he adds. These microbes play an important role in the cycle of the Earth's chemical elements and compounds – yet relatively little is known about the deep terrestrial subsurface, according to a scientific review by Rachel Beaver and Josh Neufeld at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Even if a large discovery was made in the next few years, it would take at least another decade to develop an industry at scale, says Truche, meaning white hydrogen will not have an impact on the energy system anytime soon. Other experts have also argued white hydrogen extraction "simply won't be available" to replace the fossil fuel-produced hydrogen currently in use within the timeframe needed to meet global climate goals. For Emmanuel Masini, founder and chief executive of Mantle8, a French hydrogen exploration start-up backed by Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy, however, the urgent need for decarbonisation is exactly the reason for accelerating white hydrogen exploration. "We are convinced there could be really significant [hydrogen] reserves, we need to go ahead and deliver them," Masini says. To do this, Mantle8 has developed a technology which uses geology, geophysics and geochemistry data and sensors to create 4D images (in three dimensions and across time) of the Earth's mantle to pinpoint the specific location of white hydrogen reservoirs and quantify and monitor the volume of hydrogen in each. The technology could be used to map the entire planet and take out the guesswork in exploration by identifying replenishing reservoirs, saving both time and money, says the start-up. Masini says it has already identified 12 promising locations across Europe and aims to identify 10 million tonnes of hydrogen reserves by 2030 – a goal he is confident it can meet. More like this:• Why we may soon need to eat 'resurrection' plants• Are China's swap stations the future of electric cars?• The controversial machine sending CO2 to the ocean and making hydrogen In February 2025, Mantle8 secured financing to pilot the technology in the Pyrenees mountains in southwest France. The company aims to begin exploratory drilling in 2028 and produce its first kilogram of hydrogen by 2030 at around $0.80 (£0.60) per kg. That would make it cheaper than any other hydrogen form and at least five times less than the cost of green hydrogen. Researchers at Stanford University have also estimated that white hydrogen could be produced below $1 (£0.74) per kg under optimal conditions. Tools and expertise developed by the oil and gas industry could be adapted to extract the gas, argues Viacheslav Zgonnik, a pioneer in natural hydrogen exploration and chief executive of HyReveal, a start-up developing ways to detect and monitor hydrogen underground. "It presents an amazing opportunity for the hydrocarbon industry to make the pivot" to cleaner energy sources, he argues. Oil companies are indeed showing growing interest. In Brazil, Petrobras is researching the possibility of natural hydrogen extraction. Oil giants BP and Chevron have joined a consortium studying natural hydrogen, and BP recently invested in UK-based natural hydrogen start-up Snowfox Discovery. Others are considering stimulating hydrogen production by injecting water into underground iron-rich rocks to produce "orange" hydrogen, a process which could theoretically be coupled with carbon sequestration but remains more complicated and uncertain. Zgonnik is optimistic white hydrogen can provide "the missing link" to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, starting with the fertiliser industry. Still, even under a best-case scenario, he estimates it could replace "only a few percent" of global fossil fuel use by 2050. But others, like Truche, argue it is too early to determine what role, if any, white hydrogen could play in the energy transition. Whether replenishing reservoirs of extractable hydrogen exist underground "is a genuine scientific question", he says. "But it remains to be proven." -- For essential climate news and hopeful developments to your inbox, sign up to the Future Earth newsletter, while The Essential List delivers a handpicked selection of features and insights twice a week. For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Philomaxcap and ProtonH2 Sign MOU to Deliver Scalable, Low-Cost Hydrogen Infrastructure
'Philomaxcap and GenH2 have essential technology and equipment for the hydrogen midstream value chain.'— Josh McMorrow, CEO of Philomaxcap AG and Executive Chairman of GenH2 TITUSVILLE, FL, UNITED STATES, July 8, 2025 / / -- Philomaxcap AG, a Frankfurt-listed company and parent of U.S.-based liquid hydrogen innovator GenH2, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Canadian clean hydrogen producer ProtonH2 to explore the integration of their respective technologies and commercial strengths. Strategic Advantages of the Partnership · Transformational Combination of Low-Cost Production with Advanced Liquefaction: ProtonH2's proprietary ISHG™ technology transforms end-of-life oil and gas assets into clean hydrogen hubs, producing low-carbon hydrogen for under $0.75/kg. When coupled with GenH2's modular liquefaction systems and zero-loss Controlled Storage systems, the partnership delivers an end-to-end hydrogen value chain with unmatched cost-efficiency. · Unlocking New Markets for Clean Hydrogen: With an expanding portfolio of production sites—starting with the Kerrobert Power Project in Saskatchewan—ProtonH2 creates a pipeline of clean hydrogen supply ready for commercialization. Philomaxcap, through GenH2, brings a global footprint and existing sales channels for midstream hydrogen opportunities. This has the potential to open downstream markets for ProtonH2's clean hydrogen output. · Scalable and Distributed Infrastructure: GenH2's modular and scalable liquefiers are ideally suited for ProtonH2's production sites, including its Kerrobert Power Project in Saskatchewan. This model enables localized production and delivery of liquid hydrogen, minimizing transport costs and emissions. · Global Expansion Readiness: The companies intend to explore opportunities to co-develop hydrogen infrastructure projects using a replicable model that can scale across jurisdictions. 'Philomaxcap and GenH2 have essential technology and equipment for the hydrogen midstream value chain,' said Josh McMorrow, CEO of Philomaxcap AG and Executive Chairman of GenH2. 'By linking ProtonH2's breakthrough clean hydrogen production with GenH2's patented modular liquefaction equipment and zero-loss liquid hydrogen controlled storage systems, we aim to redefine the economics and scalability of liquid hydrogen.' 'At ProtonH2, we've pioneered a model that converts legacy energy assets into scalable hydrogen production hubs—delivering clean hydrogen at costs that finally make widespread adoption viable,' said Paul Sandhu, CEO of ProtonH2. 'Partnering with Philomaxcap and GenH2 allows us to rapidly mobilize this model across regions, aligning world-class liquefaction and storage with breakthrough production to meet the urgency of global demand.' The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration across liquefaction deployment, hydrogen offtake, asset integration, and new market development. It reflects both companies' commitment to enabling clean, commercially viable hydrogen at global scale. About Philomaxcap AG ( ) Philomaxcap AG, based in Munich, is a managing holding company focused on the hydrogen industry that provides services for existing and yet-to-be-acquired investments. In 2025, the capital increase by contribution resulted in the full acquisition of GenH2 Corp., a US company specializing in liquid hydrogen technology and equipment. About GenH2 GenH2, a subsidiary of Philomaxcap AG (FRA:HBD1), is a technology leader in liquid hydrogen infrastructure systems for advanced clean energy. GenH2 solutions allow for safe hydrogen liquefaction, zero-loss storage, and transfer. The company focuses on mass-producing equipment to speed infrastructure buildout and make hydrogen accessible for everyday use around the globe. The technology team includes former NASA researchers and developers with decades of experience researching, engineering, and building hydrogen solutions. Learn more about GenH2 at About ProtonH2: ProtonH2 is a clean technology company focused on hydrogen production from end-of-life oil and gas reservoirs. With a mission to develop low-cost, low-carbon intensity industrial-scale hydrogen production, ProtonH2 is dedicated to advancing the energy transition and creating a sustainable future. Melissa Perlman BlueIvy Communications +1 561-310-9921 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Facebook X Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Titusville PD releases edited bodycam video in deadly shooting, drawing criticism
The Brief Titusville police released a video statement with some officer-worn body camera footage from a controversial officer-involved shooting of 25-year-old Trimarea Charles. The police chief narrated most of the video and shared about ten seconds of the full shooting at the end of the pre-recorded statement. Community members say the information doesn't give them clarity in the shooting that happened in February. TITUSVILLE, Fla. - A heavily edited body camera video released by the Titusville Police Department is drawing criticism from community members and renewed demands for transparency more than four months after the deadly police shooting of 25-year-old Trimarea Charles. What we know Titusville Police released an 18-minute pre-recorded video on Friday that included only five seconds of unedited body camera footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting of 25-year-old Trimarea Charles that occurred more than four months ago. The remainder of the footage was slowed down and narrated by Police Chief John Lau. The State Attorney's Office ruled the shooting justified earlier in the week. The shooting happened back on Feb. 7. Since then, tensions have been escalating at city council meetings where family members and concerned citizens have been demanding transparency in the ongoing Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. The state attorney cleared the officers this week of any wrongdoing, and the police chief released a new statement on Friday. Community members say they wanted to see the entirety of the police and civilian interaction from that night and not edited versions of what happened. The community is still demanding answers and accountability from the police department. The chief was not available for interviews on Friday. What we don't know We don't know when TPD will release the raw footage. FOX 35 has submitted several records requests from the night of the shooting. It's unclear what the victim's mom was shown when police shared video from the incident with her on Thursday. The backstory The shooting happened more than 100 days ago, sparking ongoing community protests and repeated calls for transparency. Tensions between local officials and residents have escalated as the police department delayed the release of any footage, prompting suspicion and frustration from the victim's family and supporters. What they're saying The footage, released Friday, was part of an 18-minute pre-recorded video featuring Police Chief John Lau. Only about five seconds of unedited body camera video was shown. Critics took issue with the chief's tone during the video, in which he directly called out those who have protested at city council meetings. "What we seen was a movie production, so this is the confusing part," said James Saunders, a friend of Samantha Charles, who is the mother of Trimarea Charles. "There's a family that's grieving. There's a community that's grieving. Don't push blame on others," said Lance Fisher, former deputy police chief for Palm Bay, who is a strong advocate of accountability and transparency with police now. "They have been screaming from the mountains that our officers did not act appropriately," said Titusville police chief, John Lau, who has been critical of people speaking out at city council meetings before the video and investigation were complete. The family's lawyer, Natalie Jackson, Co-Director of Litigation at Ben Crump Law, also released a statement following the video release: "This has always been about transparency and accountability. When you keep a grieving family in the dark for months, it creates suspicion. It erodes trust. It forces them to mourn without answers. And if police believed the video supported the officers' actions, then why the delay? Holding back footage makes it look like departments only released it when it suits their narrative. That's not justice — that's PR." What's next FOX 35 News has requested the raw, unedited footage from the night of the shooting and is still waiting for its release. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Titusville Police Department, Natalie Jackson, Co-Director of Litigation at Ben Crump Law, Lance Fisher, former deputy police chief for Palm Bay, and James Saunders, a friend of Samantha Charles.
New York Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida promises a ‘zero tolerance policy' if protests aren't peaceful.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican law enforcement officials in Florida have used the protests in California to cast their state as 'anti-riot,' warning potential protesters of harsh consequences if demonstrations are anything but peaceful. Mr. DeSantis said in a podcast recorded on Wednesday that the state had a 'zero tolerance policy' for protests that block roads or intersections. He cited a Florida law passed in 2021 in response to the protests over the murder of George Floyd. 'If you're driving on one of those streets and a mob comes and surrounds your vehicle and threatens you, you have a right to flee for your safety,' Mr. DeSantis told a conservative podcast host, Dave Rubin. 'And so if you drive off and you hit one of these people, that's their fault for impinging on you.' At the time that the law was passed, civil liberty advocates said it could criminalize peaceful protests. The Florida Supreme Court ruled last year that nonviolent protesters and bystanders could not be held criminally liable under a provision of the law. On Thursday, James Uthmeier, Florida's Republican attorney general, held a news conference in Titusville 'to put the public on notice' about the state's hard-line policies. He was joined by Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County, who spoke in even starker terms than the governor. 'If you throw a brick, a fire bomb or point a gun at one of our deputies,' he said, 'we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains at, because we will kill you graveyard dead.' He added, 'We're not going to play.' Protests against immigration raids that began in Los Angeles last week have expanded to other cities around the country, though few have taken place in Florida. There have been some scattered instances in other states of protesters throwing rocks and lighting cars on fire, although many protesters have been peaceful. Police intervened at a protest in downtown Tampa, Fla., on Monday after people protesting immigration enforcement clashed with counter protesters who back Mr. Trump. On Wednesday, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it had arrested a 26-year-old man for responding to a post on social media about the protests. The man wrote that if he saw any protesters, he would 'plow through' with a tow truck. Demonstrations are planned across the state on Saturday as part of a national effort to oppose some of President Trump's policies.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Titusville police officers shooting of armed man was justified, state attorney says
The Brief A February police shooting in Titusville that killed 25-year-old Trimarea Charles was ruled justified by the State Attorney. Officers shot Charles after he rearmed himself with a modified pistol during a violent confrontation, investigators said. Tensions flared at a city council meeting as Charles' mother demanded answers and was escorted out. TITUSVILLE, Fla. - A police shooting that left a 25-year-old man dead in February was a lawful use of force, State Attorney William Scheiner concluded in a letter released Tuesday. What we know The fatal shooting of 25-year-old Trimarea R. Charles by Titusville police officers was ruled a lawful use of force by State Attorney William Scheiner on June 10. Charles was shot Feb. 7 after a confrontation with officers outside a known trouble property on South Robbins Avenue. He had armed himself with a modified Glock pistol after an initial scuffle with Officer Xzevies Baez and was running toward another officer and a nearby home when police opened fire. Video evidence, including body and dash cameras, showed Charles swinging at an officer, ignoring commands, and arming himself with a modified Glock pistol capable of automatic fire, prosecutors said. The weapon was later found to be linked to other shootings in different jurisdictions, according to authorities. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) took over the investigation, and the findings were forwarded to the State Attorney's Office. At a recent Titusville City Council meeting, many expressed frustrations over the length of time the investigation had taken. Among those were city leaders and Samantha Charles, the mother of Trimarea Charles. Charles was removed from that council meeting after demanding answers. The backstory Police had responded to repeated reports of gunfire and criminal activity at the Robbins Avenue residence in the days leading up to the shooting. The home was under a trespass order authorized by the property owner. Charles had been spotted on the property before fleeing from officers, dropping a gun, then turning back to retrieve it—a decision that investigators said triggered the use of deadly force. What we don't know It's unknown whether any internal disciplinary reviews or policy changes will follow. What they're saying In the June 10 decision, Scheiner said Titusville Police Officers Xzevies Baez and Zachary Blougouras were legally justified in using deadly force against Trimarea R. Charles on Feb. 7, citing Florida statutes and a U.S. Supreme Court standard that allows deadly force to prevent imminent harm or a forcible felony. "I have determined that the use of force by Officer Xzevies Baez and Corporal Zachary Blougouras was lawful and justified under the provisions of Chapter 776, Florida Statutes," said State Attorney William Scheiner. In a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Scheiner quoted Florida Satute 776.012(2), which reads, "A person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony." Scheiner also wrote that the United States Supreme Court in Barnes v Felix provides guidance and states, "[T]he 'totality of the circumstances' inquiry into whether a use of force by a law enforcement officer was reasonable has no time limit; the history of the interaction, as well as other past circumstances known to the officer, may inform the reasonableness of the use of force." STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the Titusville Police Department, the Office of State Attorney William Scheiner, and from previous reporting by FOX 35 News.
