Geologic hydrogen is high-risk but high-reward due to challenges related to limited, non-real-world knowledge, according to a new study.
Geologic hydrogen, also known as white or natural hydrogen, is formed inside the Earth’s crust through natural processes in areas of iron-rich rock and can accumulate in underground reservoirs.
Its potential as a clean and low-cost source of hydrogen has been growing in recent years, as various companies and governments start exploration efforts.
Early last year, Rystad Energy estimated that 40 companies were searching for natural hydrogen deposits, up from just 10 in 2020.
However, according to a study by Sandia National Laboratories in the US questions remain about how subsurface hydrogen can be found and recovered, with more R&D efforts required across various elements of the operation.
“The key challenge to making geologic hydrogen a beneficial reality is understanding where hydrogen is being generated and how,” the study said.
It stressed the need for R&D across four themes: subsurface reservoir management and modelling, subsurface access, system analysis, and sensing hydrogen.
In subsurface reservoirs, it calls for research on rock analysis, understanding hydrogen generation mechanisms, and applying science from nuclear waste management on hydrogen generation from radiolysis.
It outlines the need for the development of deep drilling methods, advancing methods to map and characterise subsurface fracture networks, and hydrogen storage in porous rock.
When it comes to systems analysis, the report says R&D needs include novel engineering for capturing, processing, compressing, storing and transporting hydrogen; adapting techno-economic and lifecycle analyses; and developing thermodynamic modelling.
The study also said new sensor technologies could be deployed via airborne or space-based platforms to highlight hydrogen seeps, and through engineered subsurface infrastructure.
“Compared to other hydrogen-generating technologies… geologic hydrogen has the potential for a more positive technological development outlook,” the study said, while stressing that “significant, converted” R&D efforts backed by funding are needed.
“Geologic hydrogen is a high-risk, high-reward technology, facing challenges related to our limited and largely academic knowledge base and nascent ability to economically explore for, develop and produce it.”
