Hidden Hydrogen Reserves Beneath Earth’s Surface Could Power the Green Energy Revolution for Centuries for decades, natural hydrogen beneath the Earth’s crust has quietly formed and accumulated in deep underground traps—largely unnoticed and untapped. Now, scientists believe this hidden store of clean energy could fuel the world for hundreds of years and dramatically reshape the future of the global energy economy.

Evidence is mounting. In Mali, a single gas field has been producing near-pure hydrogen, proving that such resources are not just theoretical. The discovery has drawn intense interest from major world powers, energy companies, and venture capitalists. By the end of 2023, around 40 companies were already exploring natural hydrogen around the globe—and that number has likely doubled.

Hydrogen has long been a key industrial resource, used heavily in refining, fertilizer production, and steel manufacturing. But until recently, its potential as a clean energy source was overshadowed by the fact that most hydrogen production depends on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to global carbon emissions.

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Natural hydrogen offers an alternative—one that could be both cleaner and more cost-effective. Generated naturally over billions of years through chemical reactions in the Earth’s crust, this form of hydrogen escapes the high carbon footprint associated with traditional production methods. It can also be sourced without the massive infrastructure and water requirements needed for green hydrogen, which relies on solar, wind, and electrolysis.

A recent estimate from the U.S. Geological Survey suggests there's enough accessible natural hydrogen underground to meet global demand for about 200 years. This hydrogen is created through two key geological processes: chemical reactions between groundwater and iron-rich minerals, and water radiolysis, in which radioactive decay in rocks splits water molecules, releasing both hydrogen and helium.

While helium has long been known for its value, commercial exploration for hydrogen is only now accelerating. This renewed interest was sparked by a coincidence—the accidental discovery of the Mali field occurred just as declassified Soviet data revealed historical evidence of hydrogen-rich formations. That moment triggered a wave of exploration from countries like the U.S., France, and Australia, all reexamining old data with fresh urgency.

Exploring natural hydrogen shares many similarities with traditional oil and gas extraction. It requires a source rock, a pathway for migration, and a reservoir for accumulation. The technology and infrastructure are already largely in place, meaning the transition to hydrogen extraction could happen much faster than building new green hydrogen systems from scratch.

Natural hydrogen wells would occupy far less space than the sprawling solar farms and wind parks required for green hydrogen production. They also don’t depend on freshwater, a critical advantage in water-scarce regions.

But even with all this promise, the biggest obstacle is not scientific—it’s legal. In many jurisdictions, hydrogen is not yet formally recognized as a natural resource, making it difficult for exploration companies to acquire permits or funding. Regulatory uncertainty slows down land acquisition, infrastructure development, and community engagement, all of which are crucial for project success.

There are exceptions. South Australia implemented specific legislation for natural hydrogen, and within a short time, the government received a surge of applications from interested companies. This example proves that once legal frameworks are in place, interest and investment follow quickly.

As more countries realize the potential of natural hydrogen, the race is on to map and unlock these vast underground stores. The opportunity is clear: with the right regulatory frameworks and exploration strategies, natural hydrogen could become a cornerstone of the global clean energy transition—without the sky-high costs and carbon emissions of current alternatives.

What was once an overlooked byproduct of geology could now become the world’s next major energy breakthrough.

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