Large reserves of white hydrogen A recent study suggests that this clean-burning gas might be found in mountainous areas, which could boost attempts to address the climate crisis through its extraction and utilization.
Recently, white hydrogen has garnered interest due to its potential to substitute climate-changing fossil fuels. Not too long ago, roughly a few decades back, certain scientists began asserting that this potent energy source—also referred to as "natural" or "geologic" hydrogen—exists abundantly within the Earth’s crust.
Ever since, geologists have meticulously examined its formation and potential locations. The primary challenge has involved determining where to locate deposits substantial enough to meet humanity’s relentless demand for energy.
In their search for solutions, a group of researchers employed computer simulations to model the motion of the Earth's tectonic plates and identify areas with optimal conditions for producing white hydrogen. Their investigation revealed that mountain chains like the Pyrenees and Europe's Alpine region could be prime locations for this phenomenon, as reported in the findings. study released on Wednesday in the journal Science Advances.
Hydrogen, which generates just water upon combustion, has often been considered a clean fuel, particularly for sectors such as aviation and steel manufacturing that have high energy demands. However, the majority of commercially available hydrogen is created using fossil fuels, thus negating its potential environmental benefits.
This is why white hydrogen presents such an intriguing possibility.
Interest might have originated from the serendipitous finding of pale hydrogen in Mali back in 1987, following an incident where a smoker accidentally ignited the gas at the bottom of a water well. Despite immediate sealing efforts, the site was reopened in 2011 and now supplies hydrogen to assist in powering a nearby community.
Pure hydrogen has been discovered in various locations such as the U.S., Australia, and France, yet the challenge lay in locating substantial quantities of it.
"We've long understood that nature generates hydrogen, yet this hasn't truly been considered as an alternative source of energy," stated Frank Zwaan, a research contributor and geologist from the Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany. He mentioned that other forms of energy were more readily available; however, with the intensifying climate emergency, the competition to discover new options is becoming increasingly urgent.
The formation of this gas occurs naturally via numerous processes, such as radioactive decay within the crust. However, Zwaan’s group concentrated on "serpentization," which involves water reacting with iron-containing rocks from the Earth’s mantle to generate hydrogen.
These rocks typically form far beneath the Earth’s surface where water is not easily accessible. However, through geological processes occurring over millions of years, they can be brought closer to the surface. This occurs underwater as well when tectonic plates separate, enabling mantle rocks to ascend; similarly, this phenomenon takes place during continental collisions that close off oceanic basins, pushing mantle rocks upwards.
Zwaan mentioned that the scientists utilize tectonic plate models to ascertain the locations and times of such exhumation events for the mantle rocks, along with estimating their volumes.
They discovered that specific mountain chains, such as the Pyrenees, the European Alps, and portions of the Himalayas, provided suitable environments for producing white hydrogen. This was due to significant amounts of mantle rocks being available at optimal temperatures, along with deep fractures that facilitated water circulation.
The amount of mantle rock accessible for serpentinization in mountain ranges alone indicates that white hydrogen "might be a transformative factor," according to Zwaan.
Geoffrey Ellis, a geochemist from the US Geological Survey who wasn’t part of the research team, stated that the mechanisms responsible for bringing mantle rocks near the Earth's surface are already extensively understood. However, as he explained to Pawnation.com, what sets this study apart is its "quantitative method" for evaluating the potential presence of white hydrogen in areas where these rocks have risen.
The major issue at hand will be locating sizable underground deposits of white hydrogen that can be accessed through drilling, as mentioned by Zwaan. Additionally, it might be feasible to enhance serpentization artificially by boring into regions where mantle rocks are near the Earth’s surface and then injecting water, he further explained.
Initial exploration is already underway in regions such as France, the Balkans, and the US.
This groundbreaking study could assist geologists in identifying areas with significant deposits of white hydrogen, and it is expected to "have a considerable and immediate effect on the exploration of geological hydrogen," according to Ellis.
Developing a sustainable white hydrogen sector involves numerous stages such as establishing consistent, cost-effective techniques for extraction along with building facilities for storage and transportation. According to Zwaan, this process could span several decades before becoming commercially viable. "It would be unrealistic," she noted, "to view it as a quick fix."
However, he remains hopeful. "Oil was more like an oddity until the technology became capable of applying it extensively," he explained, adding that white hydrogen might follow a comparable trajectory.
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