In a world where the demand for clean energy is growing, researchers from the universities of Oxford, Durham and Toronto are shedding light on a valuable resource hidden deep within the Earth: natural hydrogen. Their study, published in the esteemed journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, offers the first thorough examination of the geological conditions required for the identification and utilisation of this future fuel. Read more in the article ‘Natural hydrogen resource accumulation in the continental crust‘.
Hydrogen is already playing a role in the global economy — not only as an energy carrier, but also as the basis for producing fertilisers that feed half the world’s population. Forecasts are clear: demand for this element will increase sixfold by 2050. However, only hydrogen obtained in a carbon-free manner — without CO₂ production — can truly support the energy transition and counteract climate change.
While existing methods of hydrogen production, such as electrolysis using renewable energy sources or CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) installations (i.e. capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or industrial emissions), are technologically promising, they are still costly. In this context, the search for natural hydrogen deposits is becoming important for many countries.
A team of scientists from three universities has undertaken detailed mapping of the geological components necessary for creating a hydrogen system. Their research has identified several key factors, including the types of rocks capable of producing hydrogen, their interaction with water, gas migration mechanisms, and the conditions conducive to its accumulation and protection from destruction. This scientific knowledge opens up new perspectives for exploring resources that could meet humanity’s energy needs for thousands of years.
As Prof. Jon Gluyas of Durham University notes: “We have successfully developed a strategy for helium — now we can apply a similar approach to hydrogen.” This highlights the increasing potential of geology in finding solutions to global energy challenges.
One of the most interesting aspects of the research is the attention it draws to the threats posed by microorganisms living underground that ‘feed’ on hydrogen. As Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar of the University of Toronto points out, identifying environments that protect hydrogen from microbial degradation is crucial for its effective extraction.
The results of this research are already extending beyond the academic sphere. Inspired by the scale of the discovery, the scientists founded Snowfox Discovery, a company aiming to become a leader in exploring and commercialising natural hydrogen deposits, fully aware of its potential and social responsibility.
This discovery could be one of the most important steps towards a CO₂-free future. If exploration efforts are successful, natural hydrogen could become a new pillar of a sustainable energy system — a clean, accessible, long-term viable energy source that has been right under our feet all along.
Poland is also taking steps towards a hydrogen future, intending to intensify research into the location and extraction of natural hydrogen. At the end of last year, AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, together with scientific and industrial institutions, established the Polish Initiative for Natural Hydrogen (Geo-Hydrogen), a scientific and technical cooperation agreement opening a new chapter in the country’s energy and geology sectors.
The initiative’s goal is to conduct joint scientific research, identify areas for exploring natural hydrogen deposits, and develop technologies for extracting and using it. Cooperation between the scientific community and industry will be crucial here — the partners involved include AGH University of Science and Technology, the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, the Institute of Mineral Resources and Energy Management of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the ORLEN Group.
At the Natural Hydrogen Day conference organised by AGH, experts made it clear that hydrogen should form the basis of a new, stable and sustainable energy economy.
As Prof. Jerzy Lis, Rector of the AGH University of Science and Technology, emphasised: “Hydrogen is not only the energy source of the future, but also a real opportunity to build the competitiveness of the economy and educate leaders of the energy transition.”
Wiesław Prugar, a member of the ORLEN SA management board, pointed out that the company’s strategy covers all links in the hydrogen economy chain, from production to industrial applications. Natural hydrogen fits in here as an innovative and strategic element, and ORLEN’s experience in raw material exploration will be key to the project’s success.
Scientific research is also particularly important. As Prof. Krzysztof Szamałek from the Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute pointed out, identifying the most promising geological formations could pave the way for exploiting hydrogen deposits in Poland. This is an almost untouched area of geology with potential not only for industry, but also for developing new areas of research.
Natural hydrogen, or geological hydrogen, is a raw material whose potential deposits are formed as a result of natural geochemical processes and can be exploited in a similar way to natural gas deposits. If Poland is found to have significant reserves of this raw material, it could contribute significantly to the country’s energy independence and reduce CO₂ emissions.
The initiative also has an educational and promotional dimension, with plans for student internships, conferences, and joint publications to build the expertise of a new generation of specialists.
