Naturally occurring geologic hydrogen is emerging as a potential alternative to manufactured green hydrogen, according to researchers and mining companies mapping underground deposits in the United States, Canada, and Australia. As the high costs and struggles to secure offtake deals of electrolysis-based production stall numerous green hydrogen projects, industry interest has shifted toward extracting natural hydrogen—also known as white hydrogen—directly from subterranean rock formations.
Western Australia Magnetite Experiments Reveal Underground Hydrogen Production
Researchers at Edith Cowan University’s School of Engineering have identified a potential natural hydrogen source within Western Australia’s iron ore deposits in the Pilbara region. According to a study published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, the research team experimented by exposing mineral magnetite samples to water at temperatures of 200°C under high-pressure conditions for 60 days to simulate deep Earth environments.
The team found that injecting a solution into banded iron formations can stimulate hydrogen production, providing insight into the conditions required to sustain natural underground accumulations. Lead author Kaveh Moghanirahimi stated that unlocking this resource at scale could prove transformative for the regional energy future. Professor Stefan Iglauer from the university’s School of Engineering noted that production depends on both the amount of magnetite present and the accessibility of fresh mineral surfaces through fractures and permeable pathways.
Did you know? Western Australia hosts some of the largest banded iron formations globally, which researchers are investigating as a primary geological setting for white hydrogen generation.
Canadian Shield Accumulation and Active Saskatchewan Drilling
Natural hydrogen is generated over time through chemical reactions between rocks and subsurface groundwaters, according to University Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar. Geochemists from the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa mapped hydrogen gas concentrations steadily building within the ancient rocks of the Canadian Shield, establishing a framework to assess potential exploration sites.
Building on these findings, local firm Max Power Mining has initiated exploration operations in Canada, launching the drilling of a third validation well to a depth of 2,278 meters (7,473 feet) underground at the Lawson Complex located in southern Saskatchewan.
USGS Mapping and Commercial Testing in Kansas and Nebraska
Exploration efforts are similarly underway in the United States. Australia-listed company HyTerra is actively conducting production testing for white hydrogen at its Nemaha Project in Kansas and well testing at its Geneva Project in Nebraska. HyTerra CEO Riley Kemp noted that establishing a commercial geologic hydrogen project remains the company’s clear focus following production testing results at the McCoy-1 well.
These commercial efforts align with broader federal data released last year by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The agency published the first map identifying prospective locations for naturally occurring geologic hydrogen. The USGS map highlights several areas of interest, including a mid-continent region spanning Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Michigan, the Four Corners states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, along with the California coast and parts of the Eastern seaboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is geologic hydrogen?
Geologic hydrogen, or white hydrogen, is naturally occurring molecular hydrogen found trapped or continuously generated in subterranean rock formations, differing from green hydrogen produced via electrolysis.
How is natural hydrogen formed underground?
According to researchers, natural hydrogen is produced over extended periods through ongoing chemical reactions between deep underground rocks and the groundwaters contained within those formations.
Where is white hydrogen currently being explored?
Companies and researchers are actively mapping and drilling for white hydrogen in Australia’s Pilbara region, the Canadian Shield in Saskatchewan, and various parts of the United States including Kansas and Nebraska.
Pro Tip: Monitor regional geological surveys and academic publications in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy for early indicators of prospective white hydrogen basins.
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