Natural hydrogen resource exploitation must confront the issue that certain gas compositions are undesirable in terms of environmental sustainability
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Abstract
Exploration for natural hydrogen subsurface accumulations (“white” hydrogen) is justified based on supply requirements for expanded hydrogen-based energy systems. However, there are some key issues that require more detailed assessment before the exploitation of such resources can be justified from resource availability, environmental and sustainability perspectives. Three key issues of concern are: lack of large porous and permeable reservoirs containing hydrogen found to date; avoiding leakage of hydrogen from surface and subsurface production facilities; and finding sub-surface hydrogen reservoirs not substantially contaminated with methane or carbon dioxide but ideally almost pure hydrogen accompanied by commercial volumes of helium. The perspective presented explains why these issues are important and why the energy industry, academia and governments need to focus more on them if expanded hydrogen-based energy systems are to be developed to contribute to net-zero global emissions from the energy sector by 2050.
Document Type: Perspective
Cited as: Wood, D. A. Natural hydrogen resource exploitation must confront the issue that certain gas compositions are undesirable in terms of environmental sustainability. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2025, 15(3): 185-189. https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.03.02
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46690/ager.2025.03.02
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