A Game-Changer or Just a Drop in the Ocean?
The world is facing an urgent challenge: how to transition away from fossil fuels and meet our growing energy demands without worsening climate change. While renewable energy sources like solar and wind power are expanding rapidly, scientists are constantly searching for new solutions. One such discovery has recently sparked excitement—a vast reserve of naturally occurring geologic hydrogen hidden beneath Earth’s surface. But how much of an impact could it really make?
What is Geologic Hydrogen?
Geologic hydrogen, also called “gold hydrogen”, is produced deep underground through natural chemical reactions between water and iron-rich minerals. Unlike hydrogen produced from fossil fuels (which generates carbon emissions), this underground hydrogen is naturally occurring and could be extracted with minimal environmental impact. Until now, it had only been found in a few locations, such as Albania and Mali. However, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) suggests these underground hydrogen reservoirs may exist all over the world.
How Much Energy Are We Talking About?
The numbers are staggering. According to researchers, even if we extracted just 2% of the estimated geologic hydrogen reserves, it could provide 1.4 × 10¹⁶ joules of energy. That sounds like a massive amount, but in reality, it would only power the world for about 35 minutes. To put it into perspective, that’s still twice the energy stored in all known natural gas reserves, but far less than what we would need for a full-scale transition to clean energy.
The total estimated reserves contain about 5.6 million tonnes of hydrogen, which is roughly the weight of 3.7 million cars. This suggests that, if fully extracted, geologic hydrogen could supplement global energy needs, but it wouldn’t be a silver bullet for the climate crisis.
Can It Help Us Reach Net Zero?
The idea of extracting hydrogen from underground has drawn both excitement and skepticism. Hydrogen itself is considered a clean fuel because burning it only produces water vapor, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. However, experts point out several challenges:
- Time Constraints: Climate scientists argue that we need immediate solutions to cut carbon emissions. Large-scale hydrogen extraction would require new infrastructure, investment, and years of development—time we simply don’t have.
- Existing Alternatives: Renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydroelectric power are already well-established and can be scaled up more quickly. Investing heavily in extracting geologic hydrogen might divert resources from these proven technologies.
- Finite Resource: Just like fossil fuels, geologic hydrogen is not unlimited. While it may help reduce reliance on oil and gas, it wouldn’t be a permanent solution to the world’s energy crisis.
The Debate: Should We Invest in Geologic Hydrogen?
While Mali is currently the only country extracting geologic hydrogen, the idea of expanding operations worldwide is being debated. Some researchers believe this hydrogen could play a role in transitioning to cleaner energy, especially in regions where wind and solar are less viable. Others, like Professor Bill McGuire from University College London, argue that we should focus on scaling up existing renewable energy technologies instead of spending time and resources on another finite energy source.
“There’s more than enough free energy available from wind and the Sun, and the technologies are straightforward, well tested, and well established. I really don’t see the need for exploiting what is, ultimately, another finite resource.” – Prof. Bill McGuire
Conclusion: A Promising Discovery, But Not a Climate Savior
The discovery of massive underground hydrogen reserves is exciting, but it’s clear that it won’t be the magic solution to the climate crisis. While it could serve as an additional clean energy source, it’s unlikely to replace renewables as the primary solution to reducing carbon emissions.
The future of energy will likely be a mix of solar, wind, battery storage, and possibly geologic hydrogen—but for now, the fastest and most effective way to combat climate change remains expanding and improving renewable energy technologies.
