Scientists Discover Deep-Earth Hydrogen Reserves That Could Outlast Fossil Fuels
🔬 Natural Hydrogen: Earth’s Hidden Clean Energy Source
New research suggests that natural hydrogen trapped deep in the Earth’s crust could provide humanity with a nearly endless, zero-emission energy supply — potentially lasting thousands of years.
A team of scientists from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto has mapped out the geological conditions needed to locate these hidden hydrogen reserves. This gas forms naturally over millions of years and can collect underground in specific rock formations, offering a clean alternative to fossil fuels.
The study reveals that such conditions exist in many regions around the world, opening up a global opportunity for sustainable energy production.
Hydrogen is already a $135 billion industry, widely used in fertilizer production and chemical manufacturing. But its role is set to expand dramatically as countries seek cleaner energy solutions. The global hydrogen market is projected to reach up to $1 trillion by 2050.
This discovery could help industries tap into natural hydrogen sources, reducing reliance on current methods that depend heavily on fossil fuels.
The findings were published on May 13 in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment .
🌍 Hydrogen: A Pillar of Modern Society and a Key to a Greener Future
Hydrogen is far more than a promising clean fuel — it’s essential to modern life. It plays a vital role in producing fertilizers that feed nearly half the global population and is central to most strategies for achieving a carbon-neutral future.
However, today’s hydrogen production relies mostly on fossil fuels, resulting in around 2.4% of global CO₂ emissions. With demand expected to rise sharply — from 90 million metric tons in 2022 to roughly 540 million metric tons by 2050 — finding ways to produce hydrogen without increasing carbon emissions has become urgent.
While technologies like carbon capture and green hydrogen produced via renewable-powered electrolysis offer solutions, they’re not yet economically viable at scale.
🌍 A Hidden Hydrogen Treasure Beneath the Earth’s Surface
A team of researchers from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto has uncovered a promising solution hiding in plain sight: natural hydrogen deep within the Earth’s crust.
Over billions of years, our planet has generated vast amounts of this clean-burning gas — enough to supply humanity’s energy needs for around 170,000 years. Much of it remains trapped underground, untouched and completely free of emissions.
Until recently, scientists had only limited data on where this hydrogen accumulates. Now, this new study presents a clear guide for locating it — outlining the specific rock types, temperatures, fluid movements, and geological conditions that lead to hydrogen formation and storage.
With this roadmap in hand, industries can begin exploring for natural hydrogen reserves across the globe, potentially offering a major breakthrough for both energy security and climate goals.
🧠 Using First Principles to Unlock the Hydrogen Future
Professor Jon Gluyas of Durham University, a co-author of the study, explains: “We’ve already developed successful exploration methods for helium. Now, we can apply the same ‘first principles’ approach to hydrogen.”
The research lays out a clear framework for identifying natural hydrogen reserves. It details how hydrogen is generated, the types of rocks and geological conditions that produce it, how it moves underground, what allows it to collect into usable gas fields, and what factors cause it to disappear.
This scientific blueprint gives explorers a roadmap to locate and tap into hydrogen resources around the world — paving the way for a cleaner energy future.
🦠 Microbes, Geology, and the Hidden Hurdles of Natural Hydrogen
Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto, a co-author of the study, explained: “We know that certain underground microbes consume hydrogen quickly. To preserve economically viable hydrogen reserves, it’s crucial to avoid areas where these microbes come into contact with the gas.”
The research highlights where scientific understanding is well-established, and also points to gaps that need further investigation — such as how efficiently rocks react to produce hydrogen, and how geological processes bring together the right rock types and water needed for hydrogen generation.
🌍 Hydrogen in the Crust: Ancient, Abundant, and Within Reach
While some have speculated about hydrogen sources deep within the Earth’s mantle, this study shows they’re not practical for large-scale use. Instead, the researchers found that the key ingredients for natural hydrogen systems exist right here in the Earth’s crust — and in a variety of common geological settings.
Some of these hydrogen reserves are relatively young, formed millions to tens of millions of years ago. Others are hundreds of millions of years old — truly ancient. But what matters most is that these resources are found all over the world, making them accessible and scalable for future energy needs.
🧪 Hunting for Hydrogen: It’s Like Baking a Soufflé
Professor Chris Ballentine from the University of Oxford and lead author of the study compared finding hydrogen reserves to baking a perfect soufflé: “If you get even one ingredient, amount, timing, or temperature wrong, it won’t work. The same goes for locating hydrogen underground — everything has to come together just right.”
He added that discovering a reliable and repeatable method for finding hydrogen could unlock a commercially viable, low-carbon energy source — a major step forward in the global energy transition.
Motivated by this potential, the research team has launched a new exploration company called Snowfox Discovery Ltd. , dedicated to locating large, natural hydrogen deposits that could make a real impact on society’s energy needs.