Hidden underground hydrogen reserves could power the entire Earth for centuries

Massive subterranean hydrogen reserves could fuel Earth for centuries.

: A new study led by Geoffrey Ellis has discovered 6.2 trillion tons of hydrogen beneath Earth's surface, potentially altering global energy dynamics. Just 2% of this reserve could meet hydrogen needs to achieve net-zero carbon for two centuries. Natural hydrogen's availability negates storage concerns faced by synthetic alternatives, yet logistical hurdles and extraction viability remain challenges.

Geoffrey Ellis from the USGS and his team discovered an estimated 6.2 trillion tons of underground hydrogen, overshadowing oil reserves 261 times. Their research, published in Science Advances, highlights potential shifts in energy supply, as only 2% could provide net-zero carbon energy for hundreds of years.

This discovery challenges previous beliefs about hydrogen’s underground behavior, with recent finds in West Africa and an Albanian mine altering perceptions. Ellis and Sarah Gelman's model predicts hydrogen reserves ranging from 1 billion to 10 trillion tons, with logistical challenges likely limiting accessibility to some reserves.

Natural hydrogen’s advantage over synthesized types lies in avoiding storage needs, but exact locations are unknown, complicating extraction. Impact extraction requires vast infrastructure, prompting concern that renewable sources like wind and solar might be more viable alternatives, despite the promising scale of these reserves.