Two researchers in France, Jacques Pironon and Phillipe De Donato, were searching for methane underground when, using an advanced probe, they detected low concentrations of hydrogen. As they went deeper, they found more hydrogen – reaching 20% at a depth of 1,250 meters.
Estimates suggest the mining site could house 6 million to 250 million metric tons of hydrogen. Understand why this discovery can save the world!
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Also known as natural or geological hydrogen, white hydrogen, the variety found by Pironon and De Donato, is a possible source of clean energy. When burned, it releases only water, making it an alternative for sectors that demand a lot of energy.
Even though it is the most abundant element, its commercial access is still challenging, as it is often linked to other molecules, and its production can be expensive.
Geoffrey Ellis of the US Geological Survey revealed that he previously believed large accumulations of natural hydrogen were impossible.
However, a discovery in Mali changed that perception. In 1987, a water well exploded due to hydrogen, and later the village used this gas for its needs. The information caught the attention of several researchers.
There are different ways to produce hydrogen. The most promising for climate It is production using renewable energy, but it is still expensive and done on a small scale.
Interest in white hydrogen is growing as it is a potentially abundant and cheaper source. Discoveries of deposits have occurred in several places around the world.
Emerging companies such as Australia's Gold Hydrogen and Denver's Koloma are investing in white hydrogen research. Koloma, for example, secured an investment of US$91 million from financiers, including Bill Gates' company.
The big challenge is to transform discoveries and research into commercial reality. Geoffrey Ellis believes the process can take time, with lots of trial and error. However, there is optimism, and some believe that the necessary technology already exists, with only minor modifications pending.
In the Lorena basin region, plans are to drill up to 3,000 meters to better understand the amount of hydrogen available.
It would be really interesting if a region that was once one of the biggest coal producers in Europe turned into the heart of a new hydrogen industry.
