Latest news with #naturalhydrogen
Sustainability Times
25-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'They'd Rather We Stay Dependent': Leaked Docs Reveal Elites Blocking 200-Million-Ton Power Vault That Could End Energy Poverty Forever
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Natural hydrogen found in an Albanian mine could redefine sustainable energy sources. found in an Albanian mine could redefine sustainable energy sources. 🔬 This discovery suggests a shift from skyward energy solutions like solar and wind to underground resources. ⚠️ The presence of unique ecosystems in these hydrogen-rich zones requires cautious exploration. 🔋 Combining this find with Europe's green hydrogen efforts could revolutionize clean energy production. In the ongoing quest for sustainable energy, much focus has been directed towards the sky, with solar panels and wind turbines becoming emblematic of green innovation. Yet, a groundbreaking discovery suggests that the future of clean energy might not be above us but beneath our very feet. An international team of scientists has uncovered a significant natural hydrogen reservoir in a deep chromite mine in Albania. This finding has the potential to redefine how we perceive energy resources and could be a pivotal moment in the ongoing energy revolution. We've Been Looking Up for Answers but Maybe the Future Was Beneath Us All Along For decades, the pursuit of sustainable energy has been synonymous with harnessing power from the sky. Solar panels have transformed rooftops into mini power stations, and wind turbines have reshaped landscapes with their majestic blades. The race to capture renewable energy has largely been an aerial endeavor, driven by the promise of endless resources from the sun and wind. However, the recent discovery of a natural hydrogen reservoir challenges this upward gaze. Deep within a chromite mine in Albania, scientists have stumbled upon a spring that does not release water but hydrogen. This almost pure hydrogen flow, estimated at over 220 tons per year, represents the largest natural release of the gas ever recorded. This revelation is not just a geological curiosity but a potential paradigm shift in energy sourcing, suggesting that what could power our future has been lying underground all along. 'Nuclear Fusion Just Got Real': Scientists Unveil Breakthrough That Could Deliver Endless Clean Energy and Erase Fossil Fuel Dependency The Hidden Jacuzzi, the Gas Leak, and the Quiet Energy Revolution This discovery marks an energy milestone, providing concrete evidence of naturally occurring hydrogen reservoirs. Unlike traditional methods of hydrogen production, which are costly and carbon-intensive, these underground reserves offer a ready-made, high concentration source of hydrogen. Drilling at the Bulqizë mine revealed that specific geological fault zones release this gas, hinting at a natural system that has been operating for millennia. Hydrogen has long been heralded as the 'fuel of the future.' Yet, its production has been hampered by the need for energy-intensive processes like electrolysis or methane combustion. The Albanian find changes this narrative, offering a glimpse into a natural, clean hydrogen source that bypasses these carbon-emitting processes. This revelation could spark a quiet energy revolution, providing a sustainable alternative that has been hiding in plain sight. 'This Device Slashes Bills Instantly': Tech Giant Reveals Breakthrough Energy System That Could Cut Costs for 40 Million U.S. Homes But Before the Hype — A Fragile Biosphere, and a Geological Clock Ticking Slowly While the discovery is exciting, it is crucial to temper this enthusiasm with caution. Geological hydrogen is not a renewable resource in the short term; it forms over millions of years, yet can be rapidly depleted. Additionally, these deep fault zones are home to unique ecosystems that rely on hydrogen as an energy source, existing in total darkness. Unregulated exploitation of these systems could lead to the destruction of these fragile biospheres. Moreover, the 220 tons of hydrogen extracted annually is minuscule compared to the 100 million tons produced globally. However, the significance lies in the geological model that this discovery represents. Scientists have, for the first time, managed to map and simulate the formation of an underground hydrogen reservoir. This breakthrough forces a reconsideration of Earth's hidden depths as a source of natural, clean energy. Fusion Future Ignited: New Ultra-Precise Laser Technology Could Finally Make Net-Energy Devices a Scalable Global Reality Charting a New Course for Energy Exploration The discovery of natural hydrogen reservoirs offers a new narrative for energy exploration. It suggests that Earth's depths may hold answers to our energy needs, providing a clean and accessible alternative to traditional fossil fuels. However, this potential must be balanced with responsible exploration. The lessons learned from oil extraction remind us of the importance of environmental assessments and scientific ethics. This finding coincides with Europe's underwater energy revolution, where 49,600 tons of green hydrogen are produced annually. Combining these innovations could pave the way for a sustainable future. Yet, it remains imperative to approach this new frontier with caution, ensuring that the pursuit of hydrogen does not repeat the environmental mistakes of the past. As we stand on the brink of a potential energy revolution, the question remains: How can we responsibly harness this newfound underground treasure while preserving the delicate ecosystems that exist within these geological wonders? The answer could redefine our approach to energy for generations to come. This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (27)
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The British wildcatters drilling for hydrogen
British drilling companies are pioneering a new industry they hope will trigger a green energy gold rush: seeking vast reserves of natural hydrogen hidden within the Earth's crust. Billions, maybe trillions, of tonnes of the lighter-than-air gas are thought to lie trapped in rock formations deep underground – once out of reach but nowadays accessible with modern drilling techniques. If the suspected reserves are proven, it could provide a plentiful new source of ready-made, low-carbon fuel that can be extracted straight from the earth just like oil and gas – but with one key difference. 'When hydrogen burns, it does not produce carbon dioxide, just water vapour,' says Prof Barbara Sherwood Lollar, who recently led a study for the Royal Society, the UK's most august scientific body, into natural hydrogen's potential. Her report suggests that the Earth is effectively a giant hydrogen factory, with various common rock types undergoing reactions that have been releasing hydrogen for billions of years. Those reactions are estimated to produce millions of tonnes of the gas a year, a process that has continued for billions of years. Some of that hydrogen will have risen to the surface and escaped into space; much more will have accumulated underground. 'It's just a matter of finding it,' says Sherwood Lollar. A recent research paper in Science estimated the amount of hidden hydrogen to be in the trillions of tonnes. If even a tiny fraction could be recovered it 'would supply the hydrogen needed to reach [global] net zero for 200 years', the paper said. One of the companies trying to turn this promise into reality is Sound Energy, listed on London's Aim market and hunting for hydrogen beneath Morocco's deserts along with joint venture partners Getech, a British firm specialising in crunching geological data. They have surveyed the whole country seeking out the rocks most likely to hold trapped hydrogen. Now they want to start drilling. 'We are securing hydrogen exploration permits in Morocco to enable ground-based surveying and drilling to validate potential hydrogen deposits,' says John Argent, Sound Energy's vice president for geoscience. Rivals include university spin-out Snowfox, co-founded by professors Chris Ballentine and Mike Daly, from the University of Oxford, and Prof Jon Gluyas, from Durham University, now scientific advisers to the company. Snowfox's AI-based 'hydrogen search engine' crunches geological data gathered from all over the planet to find potential hydrogen mines. A patent is pending so Snowfox is cautious about publicity. But at a conference on natural hydrogen held at London's Geological Society last month Mike Lawson, Snowfox's chief exploration officer, claimed natural hydrogen could soon become a globally important energy source. 'Natural hydrogen has the potential to provide cost-competitive supply at a fraction of the carbon footprint of alternative hydrogen sources,' he said. Gold rush Translating the promise of hydrogen as a fuel source into reality has been fiendishly difficult to date, however. Stellantis, the car giant that owns Vauxhall and Fiat, last week abandoned plans to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles because the product remained too 'niche'. A Lords report in 2023 dismissed the prospect of fuelling boilers with hydrogen as 'not a serious option'. Pilot 'hydrogen towns' across Britain have failed to get off the ground, scrapped after local opposition. Hydrogen's problems stem from its physical properties: it is expensive to produce and store, and can be dangerous if not handled properly given it is easily flammable. It would be easy to dismiss Britain's crop of hydrogen wildcatters as little more than day-dreamers. But serious players are paying attention. Natural hydrogen has the potential to change the economics of production, which could transform the market. Snowfox's recent share offering inspired BP's venture capital arm to lead investment into the company, along with mining giant Rio Tinto and investment firm Oxford Science Enterprises. In America the search and potential for natural hydrogen has inspired at least two of the world's richest men with Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos investing in Denver-based Koloma, which is prospecting for hydrogen in North America. Gates's fund has also invested in France's Mantle8, which is prospecting in the Pyrenees mountains and has pledged it will find 10 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030. It claims to be able to use seismic imaging to 'see' hydrogen-producing rocks deep underground. 'Our science-first approach makes hydrogen discovery more scalable, accurate, faster and profitable,' said Emmanuel Masini, Mantle8's chief executive, in a fundraising round in March. Geologists have long known of natural hydrogen. It is often found mixed into natural gas (methane), but the amounts were considered small and uneconomic. That changed in 1987 when well-diggers drilling for water in the village of Bourakébougou, Mali, discovered wind rushing from the hole they had made in the ground. When one driller peered into the hole while smoking a cigarette, the wind exploded in his face and then caught fire, burning for weeks till it was capped. The 'wind' was pure hydrogen. Years later, in 2012, Denis Brière, a petrophysicist at Chapman Petroleum Engineering, a Canadian energy consultancy, interviewed witnesses, took samples and reported that the gas was 98pc hydrogen. Within a few months the well was hooked up to a generator that gave Bourakébougou its first electricity. All over the world the hunt for more such 'white hydrogen' sources, as the natural gas is known, began. Hydrogen is made naturally by two main processes. One involves water reacting with iron rich rocks, the other is radiolysis, when radioactive elements like uranium smash water molecules apart. Both processes turn water into hydrogen and oxygen. Geologists seeking hydrogen must hunt for the right rocks – either iron-rich or radioactive – deep underground. That would once have been a tough task, but the mass of global geological data now available, plus the advent of AI, has made it much easier. In Australia Gold Hydrogen has drilled the Yorke Peninsula near Adelaide, reporting finds of natural hydrogen up to 96pc purity plus helium, another valuable gas, with more test drilling under way this year. 'Successful results will lead to completion of a pilot project with the aim of commercialising both gases,' the company said. France is also progressing – its government has issued several exploration licences, covering areas from the Pyrenees to Lorraine in the north-east, as are companies in the US, Canada and Brazil. Cautious promise Why, though, do we need hydrogen? It's most widely known for its use as a rocket fuel and in balloons but its most vital use is in helping feed us. Hydrogen is essential to make the ammonia-based fertilisers on which crops depend. There are also the clean-energy implications if it cannot be reliably sourced and safely handled. The problem is that it's expensive and dirty to make. About 74m tonnes of hydrogen is produced annually, mostly from blasting coal or gas with superheated steam. That process generated 800m tonnes of CO2 last year, roughly 2pc of the 38bn tonnes humanity poured into the atmosphere. That total is set to triple by 2050 when global hydrogen demand is predicted to reach 220m tonnes, the Royal Society estimates. Unless, that is, new sources can be found. Environmentalists enthuse about green hydrogen, where renewable electricity is used to electrolyse water - breaking it down to hydrogen and oxygen. It sounds perfect till you look at the price: the electricity to make just one kilo of hydrogen could cost up to £9. That compares with £1-3 for making it from gas, and maybe double that if a CO2 capture system were added to limit environmental damage. By contrast, Sherwood Lollar estimates that natural hydrogen could be extracted for under £1 per kilo if it could be found in large quantities. Such suggestions make natural hydrogen sound like Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's dream fuel: cheap, clean and as renewable as it gets. Bizarrely, despite the UK being a global leader in exploiting underground energy assets such as coal, oil and gas, the search for natural hydrogen has only just started. But the results are already offering cautious promise. The British Geological Survey is mapping the radioactive or iron-rich rocks that might be worth drilling with Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Pennines and Scotland all being likely prospects. 'This could offer a strong foundation from which to expand [natural] hydrogen as a possible UK resource,' said the Royal Society report. The wildcatters may just be on to something. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Sign in to access your portfolio
Telegraph
22-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The British wildcatters on the hunt for hydrogen
British drilling companies are pioneering a new industry they hope will trigger a green energy gold rush: seeking vast reserves of natural hydrogen hidden within the Earth's crust. Billions, maybe trillions, of tonnes of the lighter-than-air gas are thought to lie trapped in rock formations deep underground – once out of reach but nowadays accessible with modern drilling techniques. If the suspected reserves are proven, it could provide a plentiful new source of ready-made, low-carbon fuel that can be extracted straight from the earth just like oil and gas – but with one key difference. 'When hydrogen burns, it does not produce carbon dioxide, just water vapour,' says Prof Barbara Sherwood Lollar, who recently led a study for the Royal Society, the UK's most august scientific body, into natural hydrogen's potential. Her report suggests that the Earth is effectively a giant hydrogen factory, with various common rock types undergoing reactions that have been releasing hydrogen for billions of years. Those reactions are estimated to produce millions of tonnes of the gas a year, a process that has continued for billions of years. Some of that hydrogen will have risen to the surface and escaped into space; much more will have accumulated underground. 'It's just a matter of finding it,' says Sherwood Lollar. A recent research paper in Science estimated the amount of hidden hydrogen to be in the trillions of tonnes. If even a tiny fraction could be recovered it 'would supply the hydrogen needed to reach [global] net zero for 200 years', the paper said. One of the companies trying to turn this promise into reality is Sound Energy, listed on London's Aim market and hunting for hydrogen beneath Morocco's deserts along with joint venture partners Getech, a British firm specialising in crunching geological data. They have surveyed the whole country seeking out the rocks most likely to hold trapped hydrogen. Now they want to start drilling. 'We are securing hydrogen exploration permits in Morocco to enable ground-based surveying and drilling to validate potential hydrogen deposits,' says John Argent, Sound Energy's vice president for geoscience. Rivals include university spin-out Snowfox, co-founded by professors Chris Ballentine and Mike Daly, from the University of Oxford, and Prof Jon Gluyas, from Durham University, now scientific advisers to the company. Snowfox's AI-based 'hydrogen search engine' crunches geological data gathered from all over the planet to find potential hydrogen mines. A patent is pending so Snowfox is cautious about publicity. But at a conference on natural hydrogen held at London's Geological Society last month Mike Lawson, Snowfox's chief exploration officer, claimed natural hydrogen could soon become a globally important energy source. 'Natural hydrogen has the potential to provide cost-competitive supply at a fraction of the carbon footprint of alternative hydrogen sources,' he said. Gold rush Translating the promise of hydrogen as a fuel source into reality has been fiendishly difficult to date, however. Stellantis, the car giant that owns Vauxhall and Fiat, last week abandoned plans to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles because the product remained too 'niche'. A Lords report in 2023 dismissed the prospect of fuelling boilers with hydrogen as 'not a serious option'. Pilot 'hydrogen towns' across Britain have failed to get off the ground, scrapped after local opposition. Hydrogen's problems stem from its physical properties: it is expensive to produce and store, and can be dangerous if not handled properly given it is easily flammable. It would be easy to dismiss Britain's crop of hydrogen wildcatters as little more than day-dreamers. But serious players are paying attention. Natural hydrogen has the potential to change the economics of production, which could transform the market. Snowfox's recent share offering inspired BP's venture capital arm to lead investment into the company, along with mining giant Rio Tinto and investment firm Oxford Science Enterprises. In America the search and potential for natural hydrogen has inspired at least two of the world's richest men with Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos investing in Denver-based Koloma, which is prospecting for hydrogen in North America. Gates's fund has also invested in France's Mantle8, which is prospecting in the Pyrenees mountains and has pledged it will find 10 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030. It claims to be able to use seismic imaging to 'see' hydrogen-producing rocks deep underground. 'Our science-first approach makes hydrogen discovery more scalable, accurate, faster and profitable,' said Emmanuel Masini, Mantle8's chief executive, in a fundraising round in March. Geologists have long known about natural hydrogen. It is often found mixed into natural gas (methane), but the amounts were considered small and uneconomic. That changed in 1987 when well-diggers drilling for water in the village of Bourakébougou, Mali, discovered wind rushing from the hole they had made in the ground. When one driller peered into the hole while smoking a cigarette, the wind exploded in his face and then caught fire, burning for weeks till it was capped. The 'wind' was pure hydrogen. Years later, in 2012, Denis Brière, a petrophysicist at Chapman Petroleum Engineering, a Canadian energy consultancy, interviewed witnesses, took samples and reported that the gas was 98pc hydrogen. Within a few months the well was hooked up to a generator that gave Bourakébougou its first electricity. All over the world the hunt for more such 'white hydrogen' sources, as the natural gas is known, began. Hydrogen is made naturally by two main processes. One involves water reacting with iron rich rocks, the other is radiolysis, when radioactive elements like uranium smash water molecules apart. Both processes turn water into hydrogen and oxygen. Geologists seeking hydrogen must hunt for the right rocks – either iron-rich or radioactive – deep underground. That would once have been a tough task, but the mass of global geological data now available, plus the advent of AI, has made it much easier. In Australia Gold Hydrogen has drilled the Yorke Peninsula near Adelaide, reporting finds of natural hydrogen up to 96pc purity plus helium, another valuable gas, with more test drilling under way this year. 'Successful results will lead to completion of a pilot project with the aim of commercialising both gases,' the company said. France is also progressing – its government has issued several exploration licences, covering areas from the Pyrenees to Lorraine in the north-east, as are companies in the US, Canada and Brazil. Cautious promise Why, though, do we need hydrogen? It's most widely known for its use as a rocket fuel and in balloons but its most vital use is in helping feed us. Hydrogen is essential to make the ammonia-based fertilisers on which crops depend. There are also the clean-energy implications if it cannot be reliably sourced and safely handled. The problem is that it's expensive and dirty to make. About 74m tonnes of hydrogen is produced annually, mostly from blasting coal or gas with superheated steam. That process generated 800m tonnes of CO2 last year, roughly 2pc of the 38bn tonnes humanity poured into the atmosphere. That total is set to triple by 2050 when global hydrogen demand is predicted to reach 220m tonnes, the Royal Society estimates. Unless, that is, new sources can be found. Environmentalists enthuse about green hydrogen, where renewable electricity is used to electrolyse water - breaking it down to hydrogen and oxygen. It sounds perfect till you look at the price: the electricity to make just one kilo of hydrogen could cost up to £9. That compares with £1-3 for making it from gas, and maybe double that if a CO2 capture system were added to limit environmental damage. By contrast, Sherwood Lollar estimates that natural hydrogen could be extracted for under £1 per kilo if it could be found in large quantities. Such suggestions make natural hydrogen sound like Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's dream fuel: cheap, clean and as renewable as it gets. Bizarrely, despite the UK being a global leader in exploiting underground energy assets such as coal, oil and gas, the search for natural hydrogen has only just started. But the results are already offering cautious promise. The British Geological Survey is mapping the radioactive or iron-rich rocks that might be worth drilling with Cornwall, Dartmoor, the Pennines and Scotland all being likely prospects. 'This could offer a strong foundation from which to expand [natural] hydrogen as a possible UK resource,' said the Royal Society report.
