Overview

• Earth's continental crust has produced enough natural hydrogen over the past billion years to meet modern energy needs for approximately 170,000 years, according to new research.
• Scientists have developed a first-of-its-kind 'exploration recipe' to identify and evaluate commercially viable hydrogen reserves, focusing on geological conditions for preservation and extraction.
• Key extraction sites require three elements: hydrogen source rocks, reservoir formations, and geologic traps to prevent gas escape, while avoiding microbial consumption of hydrogen is critical.
• Commercial ventures like Snowfox Discovery have been launched to apply the exploration framework, targeting regions such as Kansas, South Australia, and mountain ranges worldwide.
• The discovery of these natural hydrogen systems could significantly reduce reliance on hydrocarbon-based hydrogen production, which currently contributes 2.4% of global CO₂ emissions.