The Quest for Clean Hydrogen Moves Underground

1. 1. A Quebec startup, Vema Hydrogen, is drilling deep wells to chemically produce clean hydrogen by injecting treated water into iron-rich rocks.
2. 2. Current hydrogen production methods are problematic, with most relying on natural gas and creating significant emissions, while 'green' hydrogen remains expensive.
3. 3. Geologic hydrogen, formed when water reacts with iron-rich minerals underground, is emerging as a promising, potentially low-cost, and emission-free energy source.
4. 4. The U.S. Energy Department estimates geologic hydrogen could be produced for less than $1 per kilogram, making it significantly cheaper than current alternatives.
5. 5. Companies are pursuing geologic hydrogen through two main strategies: searching for natural underground reservoirs or actively stimulating hydrogen-producing chemical reactions.
6. 6. Despite its potential, geologic hydrogen faces significant hurdles, including high drilling costs, proprietary data hindering collaboration, and environmental risks like leakage or seismic activity.
7. 7. Geologic hydrogen could be used to create clean liquid fuels for ships, sustainable aviation fuels, greener fertilizers, low-carbon steel, and even synthetic methane to replace natural gas.
8. 8. While the scientific feasibility of producing underground hydrogen is now established, the main challenge is to make its extraction and utilization economically viable at scale.