For millions of years, the Earth has quietly been producing a remarkable and largely untapped source of clean energy—natural hydrogen. This invisible gas, formed deep beneath the planet’s surface, holds the potential to power humanity for the next 170,000 years without releasing a single molecule of carbon dioxide. Recently, a groundbreaking study by researchers from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto has unveiled how to locate and extract these hidden hydrogen reserves, opening a promising new chapter in the quest for sustainable energy.
Hydrogen is no stranger to industry—it currently fuels a $135 billion market, mainly for fertilizer and chemical production. But as the world accelerates its transition to clean energy, hydrogen’s role is set to expand dramatically. Projections suggest the global hydrogen market could surge to a staggering $1 trillion by 2050. Today’s hydrogen supply, however, comes mostly from fossil fuels, contributing about 2.4% of global carbon emissions. With demand predicted to increase from 90 million metric tons in 2022 to 540 million by 2050, the need for low-emission production methods has never been more urgent.
While clean hydrogen can be made through energy-intensive processes like electrolysis powered by renewables, these methods remain costly and limited in scale. Natural hydrogen—formed and trapped within the Earth’s crust over billions of years—offers a compelling alternative. According to the new research, the continental crust has produced enough hydrogen to satisfy human energy needs for millennia, yet much of it remains locked away in accessible underground reservoirs.
Until now, knowledge about natural hydrogen deposits was patchy and fragmented. This new study provides a detailed “exploration recipe,” identifying the types of rocks, fluids, temperatures, and geological timelines that create and preserve hydrogen deposits. By understanding these factors, scientists can now better predict where hydrogen may accumulate and how to extract it effectively.
Professor Jon Gluyas from Durham University compares this advancement to past breakthroughs in helium exploration. “We’ve built a model for helium exploration, and applying the same principles to hydrogen could be transformative,” he says. The researchers’ blueprint explains not only how hydrogen forms in the crust but also the environmental conditions needed to trap it and the geological forces that influence its presence or depletion.
Extracting hydrogen, however, comes with challenges. Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar of the University of Toronto highlights that underground microbes can consume hydrogen, potentially shrinking usable reserves. Avoiding these microbial environments is crucial for preserving economically viable deposits. Furthermore, scientists still need to better understand how efficiently certain rocks produce hydrogen and the impact of geological events in facilitating hydrogen formation.
Importantly, this research dispels earlier sensational claims about hydrogen coming from the Earth’s mantle, showing that the real potential lies in the more accessible crust. The geological conditions required for hydrogen accumulation exist globally—from ancient rock formations to younger geological structures—making natural hydrogen a truly widespread and feasible energy source.
Professor Chris Ballentine, lead author from Oxford, likens the discovery to baking a soufflé: “Every ingredient—rock type, temperature, fluids, timing—has to be just right.” Developing reliable exploration methods could unlock a commercially viable, low-carbon fuel that accelerates the shift toward clean energy worldwide.
To translate this vision into reality, the team has launched Snowfox Discovery Ltd., a company dedicated to exploring and developing natural hydrogen resources. As nations strive for carbon neutrality, natural hydrogen emerges as a rare beacon of hope: a clean, abundant, and naturally replenished energy source. With this new scientific roadmap, humanity stands on the brink of harnessing one of Earth’s oldest, yet most promising, gifts to power our sustainable future.
