For years, experts have been in search of the best sources of clean, affordable, and abundant energy. They have looked everywhere for energy of this nature. They have ploughed the Earth, searched under oceans, and looked to the heavens. These days, one particular type of energy is garnering attention. For a while, it was thought that this was a rare energy source. Not anymore.
Buried 950 meters underground, a new energy source could rewrite history
A huge underground stash of this unique kind of renewable energy has changed the way experts view it. A kilometer underground in Eastern France, a game-changer lies. The numbers experts are seeing are quite impressive, and the further down they drilled, the more of this precious energy they found.
Natural hydrogen is being found in an old coal basin in Lorraine. It looks like there is way more of it the further down the team drills. Scientists believe it could be one of Europe’s biggest hydrogen reserves. It might even be among the largest on the planet.
Natural hydrogen could be at the center of clean energy for Europe
Where does all this natural hydrogen in Europe come from? Deep in the Earth, certain rocks react with water, and this makes hydrogen. Experts always thought the gas would leak through the cracks in the rocks and disappear, but this is not the case. In the perfect places, thick layers of rock keep this hydrogen stored. Something similar is seen when dealing with natural gas and oil.
This French site is one among a few recently discovered hydrogen reserves in the world. Similar ones have been found in Mali, Australia, Spain, and the US. Experts are starting to believe that the planet has been producing hydrogen for millions of years and these reserves have remained hidden and are waiting to be found.
Why does natural hydrogen being found 950 meters deep matter?
The depth this hydrogen has been found at is of some significance. Lab tests show hydrogen can be found the further down they drill, even as far down as 950 meters. What was found at these depths was not expected by experts. There could be way more hydrogen trapped beneath the surface of this coal basin, enough to maybe alter the energy approaches of entire nations.
This natural hydrogen has also been called “white hydrogen” or “gold hydrogen.” Getting these out of the ground as they are does not result in carbon dioxide being spewed into the air. Natural hydrogen is also unlike green hydrogen, which is made using renewable energy and splitting water. Natural hydrogen simply requires some drilling and non-extensive processing.
How this hydrogen find could reshape the future of energy in Europe and beyond
The scale is the real point of intrigue. Experts think there might be trillions of cubic meters of natural hydrogen across the world, especially as the conditions in Mali and France have shown up elsewhere. Getting hydrogen this way costs far less than making it, as is the case with green hydrogen.
Natural hydrogen could very well be one of the cheapest fuels at our disposal. Experts are also considering the possibility that this kind of hydrogen could replenish itself over time, which is quite the revelation. It would make hydrogen of this nature one of the few renewables that do this.
The French team will continue to drill deeper and see what else they might find. This is a very exciting time in the world of renewable energy, as finds like this should help the world get closer to eliminating emissions in the future.
A fossil-free fuel that the Earth keeps making on its own would change things forever if more reservoirs like this can be found. Hopefully, they will be. The world will be watching what happens in Mali, France, and the other places where hydrogen like this has been found.