However, the process of obtaining it is currently quite expensive.
In Germany, white hydrogen is being explored: an environmentally friendly and inexpensive energy source, as reported by Deutsche Welle. It can be found, for example, in the forests of Bavaria, says Jürgen Gröch. Previously, the geologist worked at Shell, and now he is engaged in science and 'sniffing out' hydrogen.
Many entrepreneurs and politicians proclaim hydrogen as a means of decarbonizing the economy. This gas does not create emissions that lead to climate warming. But there is one problem - hydrogen needs to be produced. And the process of obtaining it largely depends on fossil fuels. Currently, less than 1% of hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources through an expensive electrolysis process.
Gröch claims that natural hydrogen, also known as white hydrogen, could be a third option. It is formed in the Earth's crust naturally - as a result of geological processes that have lasted billions of years. "Most of the Earth's mantle consists of iron-rich rocks," explains Gröch. "When they interact with water at temperatures of 200-350 degrees Celsius, iron essentially takes oxygen from the water, leaving pure hydrogen." This reaction, known as serpentinization, is considered the main mechanism for the formation of natural hydrogen.
In Bavaria, Jürgen Gröch plans to sell natural hydrogen at a price of 0.87 euros per kilogram, which is comparable to the cost of hydrogen obtained from fossil fuels. By 2030, he expects to extract 1,000 tons of white hydrogen per year from the Bavarian layer located 1,500 meters underground. It will be used by local companies and heating networks. "From the same reservoirs, we also want to produce hot water that can be used for heating homes," says Gröch.
