Natural hydrogen: future energy and resources
Naturally occurring hydrogen, formed through chemical reactions in the Earth’s crust, could be a viable, low-carbon energy source both globally and in the UK. This report explores the emerging potential of natural hydrogen and considers the opportunities and challenges associated with locating and extracting it.
What is natural hydrogen?
Natural hydrogen (sometimes called white hydrogen or gold hydrogen) is hydrogen that occurs in rocks and soils in the Earth’s crust produced by geochemical and biological processes, without any human involvement. Key production mechanisms include:
- Serpentinisation: Reactions between water and rocks which are rich in iron, resulting in chemical changes
- Radiolysis: The splitting of water molecules by natural radiation from rocks containing uranium, thorium, or potassium
Hydrogen may accumulate in subsurface reservoirs, co-existing with gases like methane, nitrogen, and helium. It is widely detected in small concentrations, including in countries such as the USA, France, Canada and Australia, but only one location (Bourakébougou, Mali) currently produces commercial quantities.
What can natural hydrogen be used for?
Natural hydrogen could be used for the same range of applications as other forms of hydrogen, including powering industrial processes, producing fertilisers and ammonia, storing energy and fuelling heavy transport. In regions with existing infrastructure and industrial demand, natural hydrogen could be a low-cost, low-carbon alternative to manufactured hydrogen sources.
What is the potential for natural hydrogen in the UK?
While the UK’s hydrogen strategy focuses on green and blue hydrogen, this report identifies where untapped potential might exist for natural hydrogen. Like many other countries around the world, the UK does have some geological areas that may have the potential to accumulate significant quantities of natural hydrogen. No databases currently exist to evaluate occurrences of natural hydrogen in the UK, and no co-ordinated nationwide exploration has taken place.
Further reading
The Royal Society’s 2024 green hydrogen roadmap highlights the key infrastructure, regulations, and supply chain integration needed to build a world-class hydrogen economy, many of which are relevant to natural hydrogen development. The Royal Society report on defossilising the chemical industry points to hydrogen as a crucial low-carbon feedstock, with natural hydrogen offering potential as a direct input for chemicals manufacturing.
The Royal Society’s report on green ammonia further emphasises hydrogen’s role in cutting emissions from industries that are difficult to clean up using electricity alone. Ammonia made with low-emissions hydrogen can act as a clean fuel and an energy carrier. If natural hydrogen proves to be a dependable and affordable source, it could significantly reduce the climate impact of making ammonia.