Natural hydrogen grows globally as potential major low-carbon energy source: Rystad Energy

Over 40 companies have commenced exploration for natural hydrogen deposits.

Natural hydrogen, known as white hydrogen, has gained momentum globally as a “potential gamechanger” as a cost-effective, low-carbon energy source.

According to research by Rystad Energy, exploratory efforts for hydrogen deposits are ongoing in Australia, the US, Spain, France, Albania, Colombia, South Korea and Canada.

From those countries, 40 companies have been engaged in the search for natural hydrogen deposits, up from 10 in 2020.

One of the advantages of white hydrogen is its cost-benefit. Compared to other forms of hydrogen – such as grey hydrogen costing less than $2 per kilogram and green hydrogen costing over three times pricier, renewable hydrogen is estimated to be lower as electrolyser pricing falls, leading white hydrogen to be cheaper.

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White hydrogen also has a low carbon intensity, with hydrogen content amounting to 85% and minimal methane contamination containing around 0.4 kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per kg hydrogen gas (H2).

White hydrogen can be produced through natural reactions, like serpentinisation of water and iron-rich minerals at high temperatures, and radiolysis of water through radioactive elements within the Earth’s crust splitting water.

“Although still in its infancy with lots of uncertainty, white hydrogen has the potential to be a gamechanger for the clean hydrogen sector as an affordable, clean natural resource, thereby shifting the role of hydrogen from an energy carrier to part of the primary energy supply,” Minh Khoi Le, head of hydrogen research at Rystad Energy, said.