In contrast to initiatives proposing energy solutions such as carbon storage or electrolysis powered by renewable energies—both still not commercially competitive—a study by the Universities of Oxford, Durham, and Toronto points to an unexpected solution: natural hydrogen that has accumulated in the Earth’s crust over the past billion years.

According to the study, this energy source could meet humanity’s energy needs for at least 170,000 years without generating emissions and may be a key component in achieving climate neutrality.

Currently, hydrogen is essential in the production of fertilizers that support the food supply of half the world’s population, in addition to being considered a cornerstone in decarbonization plans. However, its production still largely depends on hydrocarbons, a process responsible for 2.4% of global CO₂ emissions. With demand projected to increase sixfold by 2050—from 90 to 540 million tons annually—the urgency to find sustainable alternatives is pressing.

subsurface earth hydrogen energy
The global distribution of hydrogen-potential terranes. Credit: J.C. Ballentine et al.

Until now, the lack of historical data and precise measurements has limited knowledge about where these hydrogen reserves are located and what their volume is. To locate them, the researchers used an exploration strategy based on geological principles similar to those used in helium prospecting.

Identifying viable accumulations requires understanding four critical factors: how hydrogen is produced, how it migrates through rocks, what conditions allow it to concentrate in deposits, and what processes destroy it, explains co-author Jon Gluyas, a professor at Durham University.

One of the main obstacles to extracting hydrogen from the subsurface is microbial activity. As Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto explains, subsurface microorganisms consume hydrogen rapidly, so avoiding contact with the gas is essential to preserve economically exploitable deposits.

subsurface earth hydrogen energy
Abandoned water well, Montana, USA. Measurement of gases dissolved in groundwater may help discover natural hydrogen. Credit: Chris Ballentine / University of Oxford

Previous theories had speculated on the existence of hydrogen from the Earth’s mantle, but the new research rules out its viability. On the contrary, it confirms that complete systems for its formation and storage are present in common geological settings, ranging from young structures (a few million years old) to ancient deposits (hundreds of millions of years old), distributed globally.

Chris Ballentine, lead author and professor of Earth Sciences at Oxford, compares the finding to baking a soufflé: if a single ingredient, timing, or temperature is off, the result is a failure. Likewise, combining the right factors—such as types of rock, the presence of water, and the absence of destructive agents—could make it possible to locate exploitable reserves. A replicable exploration formula would open the door to a competitive, low-carbon hydrogen source, he states.

The potential of subsurface hydrogen is such that the very researchers behind the study have rushed to found Snowfox Discovery Ltd., a company dedicated to the search for natural hydrogen deposits with social impact. If successful, the dream of a clean, abundant, and emissions-free fuel could be closer than we think.

SOURCES

University of Oxford

Ballentine, C.J., Karolytė, R., Cheng, A. et al. Natural hydrogen resource accumulation in the continental crust. Nat Rev Earth Environ 6, 342–356 (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s43017-025-00670-1

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