An amazing discovery made by an international scientific team may change everything we know about renewable energy sources. With this finding, related by the team in a paper published by Science Magazine, this mine may become the new Dubai once it enhances the hopes of a natural source of the “fuel of the future”. The discovery, also known as “The Jacuzzi,” is one of the world’s largest sources for the naturally occurring H2 with the potential to be commercially exploited, and shows that other sources may be found nearby and around the world.
This mine contains the most representative quantity of pure hydrogen found until now
Geologic hydrogen (H2) recently gained interest due to its potential as an extractable primary energy resource that produces green energy. Besides the knowledge about the existence of pure hydrogen in this region, confirmed by a series of explosions, scientific teams were not able to measure the purity and quantity of the hydrogen.
With this discovery, not only was the capability and purity of the hydrogen measured, but also the existence of resources capable of producing new models of natural hydrogen exploration.
Meet “The Jacuzzi,” a natural boiling pool
This valuable discovery was made at the Bulqizë chromium mine in Albania, and until now is the highest recorded natural H2 flux to date. “The Jacuzzi”, a natural manifestation of the presence of pure hydrogen, was located inside a mine gallery and is composed of a 30 m2 bubbling spring with almost pure H2 (84% by volume).
Despite the flow being considered minimal when compared to the global production of hydrogen, this mine has about 11 tonnes of hydrogen and may be the “front door” for a natural reserve even bigger, with an estimated amount of 200,000,000 million tonnes of H2. Nevertheless, the amount of H2 found in Albania is far from the biggest reservoir of hydrogen previously discovered.
The gold hydrogen may be more common than previously expected
With this discovery, the finding has raised hopes that naturally occurring hydrogen may be more common than expected. In this state, the hydrogen may also be called white or gole H2. In fact, it is important to stress that geologic H2 is not renewable, as the production time for H2 far exceeds the extraction time. The studies applied to the mine in Albania may also help to understand the nature of the gold hydrogen, once the mountain where the reserve was found is composed of ophiolitic massifs, mantle rocks from the oceanic crust conducted onto continents, and known as a potential host for H2.
According to Michael Webber, one of the scientists involved in the discovery, this mine is also capable of changing the way the hydrogen is being exploited and used as an energy source:
“It could really disrupt geopolitics, and in many good ways, because the hydrogen will be where the oil and gas are not. If you look for it, you will find it”.
Does hydrogen have the potential to become a primary energy source?
In the recently published paper, the scientists ensured that it is too early to say if natural hydrogen will take a significant place among the popular energy sources or if it will remain a niche curiosity. Also, they pointed out that natural hydrogen is not a renewable resource, as the production is far too slow once it is compared to the amount of energy needed. While these questions remain, studies about other green energy sources are gaining strength as the world calls for a sustainable future based on green energy provided by renewable sources. Meanwhile, this discovery may be an answer to a green energy future.