A UK-based firm is exploring substantial hydrogen reserves concealed within ancient geological formations, including locations in Cornwall, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Getech, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, is aggregating information from across the UK, identifying prospective areas with hydrogen-rich rocks within the British Isles.
These resources span a zone in Scotland, extending from Greenock in the west to Aberdeen in the northeast. Additional deposits have been found in Shetland, the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, and near Omagh in Northern Ireland.
Chris Jepps, Getech’s Chief Operating Officer, commented, “At this stage, the industry is in its infancy. It’s premature to speculate extensively, but the prospects are quite thrilling. Preliminary indications suggest that this could become as significant a sector as oil and gas.”
Should it be verified, this hydrogen holds the potential to be a valuable source for producing environmentally friendly energy, as its combustion results only in water.
This gas is trapped within specific rock formations known as ophiolites and has been found in several global locations, including the mountains of Oman, parts of Australia, and central-southern United States.
A notable example of high-purity hydrogen, termed ‘white hydrogen’, was discovered under the village of Bourakébougou in Mali. This discovery, made in the 1980s, occurred when an individual drilling for water inadvertently ignited a cigarette near the drill site, causing a minor explosion due to the presence of 98% pure hydrogen gas.
Another exploration company, Gold Hydrogen, has discovered deposits with 80% hydrogen at a depth of 500 meters in South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula.
In France, a recent discovery promises high-purity hydrogen accessible at just 3,000 meters below the surface.
Koloma, a U.S. firm focusing on white hydrogen extraction, recently received a grant from the U.S. Energy Department and secured $246 million (approximately £195 million) in funding. This adds to the $50 million previously committed by investors, including Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Venture.
The company is bringing to market research led by Ohio State University geologist and co-founder Tom Darrah, who has extensively studied natural hydrogen deposits and methods for their extraction.
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, is commonly found bonded with other elements, such as oxygen in water or carbon in hydrocarbons.
Separating hydrogen from these compounds is challenging. Green hydrogen production involves using renewable electricity to split water molecules, which is costly, while blue hydrogen is produced from methane with an energy-intensive process that involves storing the carbon dioxide.
However, hydrogen’s capacity to burn at high temperatures and release substantial energy makes it an excellent fuel for heavy vehicles and industrial uses.
Geological hydrogen originates from various sources, including remnants from Earth’s formation and release from rocks through chemical reactions or radioactivity.
Until recently, these amounts were considered minimal and elusive.
The US Geological Survey indicated last year that there might be enough white hydrogen to satisfy global demand for “hundreds of years”.
Getech employs artificial intelligence to analyze a comprehensive geological database, accumulated from the oil and gas sector, to identify the richest mineral deposits. Their goal, according to Mr. Bennett, is to create a “digital genome” of the planet, revealing locations and extents of significant deposits.
For hydrogen, the objective is to pinpoint optimal exploration sites.
Mr. Bennett stated: “Natural hydrogen could be a transformative element in the energy transition. Getech is able to identify likely locations and conditions for economically viable natural hydrogen reservoirs.
“We’re currently focusing on Eastern Europe and parts of Africa. It’s a burgeoning industry; many are searching for the right sites, but few have begun drilling. Once drilling starts, the potential is enormous. It’s an exhilarating period.”
