Geologists signal start of hydrogen energy 'gold rush'. Natural sources of the gas are more abundant than expected

[Caribbeans]

Natural Hydrogen Energy’s exploratory well in Nebraska. Geologists believe hydrogen is generated in large quantities when iron-rich minerals react with water © Viacheslav Zgonnik

Geologists signal start of hydrogen energy ‘gold rush’.

Natural sources of the gas are more abundant than expected & could supply energy needs for centuries, study shows.

FT.com | Clive Cookson | Feb 18, 2024

Geologists are signalling the start of a new energy “gold rush” for a previously neglected carbon-free resource — hydrogen generated naturally within Earth.

As much as 5tn tonnes of hydrogen exists in underground reservoirs worldwide, according to an unpublished study by the US Geological Survey.

Previewing the results at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Denver, project leader Geoffrey Ellis said: “Most hydrogen is likely inaccessible, but a few per cent recovery would still supply all projected demand — 500mn tonnes a year — for hundreds of years.”

The demand for hydrogen as a fuel and industrial raw material, particularly to make ammonia for fertiliser production, has been mainly met so far by chemically reforming gas that is made up largely of methane, known as “blue hydrogen” when the carbon emissions are captured or “grey hydrogen” when they are not...

...Mengli Zhang of the Colorado School of Mines said tapping natural hydrogen — also known as geologic or gold hydrogen — would be cleaner and cheaper than blue or green hydrogen. “A gold rush for gold hydrogen is coming,” she told the conference...more
https://www.ft.com/content/81819f64-1025-489b-959a-c3d9b14cc77a
ALT: https://archive.is/c6bWr

[SWBTATTReg]

1. This is good. My ? is storing the hydrogen. The hydrogen atom is so small, prone to escaping barriers, this is from

long ago articles I have read. Perhaps they found a way around this issue?

[Caribbeans]

2. 600 + miles of hydrogen pipeline around the US Gulf Coast by one company alone

Air Products’ Gulf Coast hydrogen plant and pipeline supply network is the world’s largest system of its kind. The 600-mile pipeline stretches from the Houston Ship Channel in Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana. Our hydrogen pipeline is fed by more than 20 Air Products hydrogen production facilities and provides over 1.4 billion standard cubic feet per day (over 1.5 million Nm3/hr) of hydrogen to refinery and petrochemical customers...more
https://www.airproducts.com/company/innovation/hydrogen-and-carbon-monoxide

Over 200 Hydrogen Stations in Europe, over 400 now in China

https://h2.live/en/

[Think. Again.]

3. They have....

....there are multiple companies making hydrogen storage tanks and tankers now, and for very large amounts, unused mines are being re-purposed.

That old "but the storage!" trope is only being pushed by the fossil fuel industry now, it isn't really a thing.

[Caribbeans]

4. Fiber Winded Tanks

Rayvatek High-Pressure Carbon Fiber Winded Tank for Hydrogen Energy Storage.

Rayvatek offers both Type-3 (Metal with Carbon Fiber winded) & Type-4 (Plastic with carbon fiber winded) tanks. The maximum length of winding services can reach 12-meter meter long with a diameter of 3 meters

[SWBTATTReg]

9. Thanks!

[4dog]

5. Criticism of publications from a pro-hydrogen think tank

mostly saying its cost predictions are BS. I'm not sufficiently familiar with this whole approach to decarbonization to weigh in, but considering how widespread bad information is in the energy business, it's worth looking carefully. I also don't know if this is available to nonsubscribers.

https://medium.com/the-future-is-electric/clean-transportation-think-tank-gets-maritime-hydrogen-wrong-too-c30f99c5ea58

[Caribbeans]

6. Hydrogen IS electric

without the massive batteries

The future of mobility (and lots of other things) should be diverse and not rely 100% on batteries. At least that's what many think.

[NNadir]

7. More bullshit from the "drill baby drill" industry.

The hydrogen scam is all about greenwashing fossil fuels, period.

[BootinUp]

8. This claim that we won't need to manufacture it anymore, call me skeptical

In other words, wouldn't we already be mining it?