The USGS released the first-ever map of prospective locations for naturally occurring geologic hydrogen resources in the lower 48 states. The map is the first of its kind at continental scale anywhere, showing likely underground areas to explore for geologic hydrogen, including:
Mid-continent (Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan)
The map, which will continue to be updated as science and exploration progress, is an important first step in understanding a resource with potential to be a significant future energy resource for the U.S.“For decades, the conventional wisdom was that naturally occurring hydrogen did not accumulate in sufficient quantities to be used for energy purposes,” said Sarah Ryker, USGS associate director for energy and minerals. “This map is tantalizing because it shows that several parts of the U.S. could have a subsurface hydrogen resource after all.”While there remains considerable uncertainty about the extent to which geologic hydrogen can contribute to meeting future energy demand, it has the potential to provide low-cost feedstock for critical chemicals and help decarbonize the energy sector.Explore the full map, data, and researchhttps://ow.ly/9Nqr50UMaKl.
Image: Map showing prospectivity of geologic hydrogen in the conterminous United States. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
A new study shows Earth may hold an untapped energy source — trillions of tons of hydrogen gas buried deep beneath the surface.
Best of all? It could power the world for centuries on end.
According to research led by Geoffrey Ellis of the U.S. Geological Survey, these hidden reserves could provide enough energy to reduce global reliance on fossil fuels for 1,000 years.
Formed naturally through geochemical processes, this geologic hydrogen is estimated to total around 6.2 trillion tons (5.6 trillion metric tons), with significant potential to serve as a low-carbon energy resource.
While hydrogen reserves have already been identified in places like Albania and Mali, researchers believe similar deposits exist worldwide. However, much of this hydrogen is likely buried too deep or located offshore, making large-scale extraction a challenge. Even so, the study, published in Science Advances, suggests that tapping into just 2% of the estimated reserves could meet the world’s hydrogen needs for 200 years, helping achieve net-zero carbon goals.
The energy contained in these reserves exceeds that of all proven natural gas deposits, highlighting the potential of hydrogen as a clean alternative. However, experts like Prof. Bill McGuire of University College London warns that developing the infrastructure to extract hydrogen at scale would require a massive global effort. Despite these challenges, the study underscores the need for further research into geologic hydrogen, which could play a critical role in the transition to sustainable energy
Will last a 1000 years well maybe 200 well maybe…
Same old BS.
A prior post two years ago. Yikes, time runs too fast.