White hydrogen: Could it be a game changer for the world?

Bismakshree Neog

(DST-INSPIRE JRF, CSIR-North East Institute

of Science & Technology, Jorhat)

Dr. Santanu Baruah, Ph.D.

(Principal Scientist, CSIR-North East Institute

of Science & Technology, Jorhat-785006)

Prof. Alan L Kafka

(Earth and Environmental Sciences, Boston College, USA)

Significant scientific discoveries often occur when researchers step into something unexpected while searching for something different. One such accidental finding was the serendipitous discovery that “white hydrogen” could be found in the Earth in more than just trace amounts. For decades, geologists believed that hydrogen formed through natural processes and was found only in trace amounts. But that assumption was overturned in 1987 when some engineers encountered a dry well releasing a wind-like gas while they were searching for water at Bourakebougou, a remote village in Mali (West Africa). At first, this encounter was considered to be the failure of their water searching process, but the situation quickly turned dramatic when a worker unknowingly lit a cigarette near the borehole, resulting in a massive, smokeless flame that burnt for weeks in that region. Later tests revealed that the mysterious gas was not the usual “natural gas”, as presumed, but was 98% pure hydrogen. For years, this remarkable find remained unexplored until 2012, when a Malian entrepreneur named Aliou Diallo revisited the site to feed his scientific interests, and since then, Bourakebougou has been transformed into a focal point of global curiosity. Today, the village enjoys round-the-clock electricity generated by burning naturally occurring hydrogen—an exceptionally clean energy source that produces only water and energy, with no harmful byproducts. This incident reflects Earth’s capacity to harbour vast and hidden reserves of naturally occurring hydrogen, what scientists now call “white hydrogen”.

Before this discovery, hydrogen had been considered a secondary energy carrier, which is generally manufactured. The most common forms of manufactured hydrogen include green hydrogen, produced by electrolysis powered by renewable sources, and blue hydrogen, generated from fossil fuels combined with carbon capture and storage. But such manufacturing comes with several limitations. Low efficiency, high production costs, and reliance on plentiful renewable energy sources are the main drawbacks of green hydrogen. On the other hand, blue hydrogen has drawbacks, including methane leakage, inefficient carbon collection, and expensive infrastructure. Both have technological and regulatory obstacles and demand large investments. Due to such challenges, the focus has recently shifted towards the overlooked source: naturally occurring hydrogen, i.e., “white hydrogen”. This form of hydrogen is not manufactured but formed naturally underground through geological processes involving chemical reactions such as serpentinisation and radiolysis. These processes can take place in various geological settings, including active tectonic zones, sedimentary basins, volcanic terrains, and geothermal regions. Since “white hydrogen” occurs naturally, it is also known by several other names, including natural hydrogen, geologic hydrogen, geogenic hydrogen, and gold hydrogen.

In today’s global energy usage landscape, the common sources of energy include coal, petroleum, hydropower, and natural gas. However, these sources come with several disadvantages, such as pollution, damage to ecosystems, high costs, and limited supply. Hydrogen, on the other hand, being a vital component of our planet, has long been used in industries for purposes like petroleum refining, fertiliser production, and chemical manufacturing. But recently, the horizon of its importance has grown, and its potential is gradually shifting towards becoming a clean energy source for our environment. Hydrogen can replace common energy sources like natural gas and be used effectively as a fuel.

With growing interest in “white hydrogen” as a clean energy source, many countries have begun exploring ways to extract it. The United States is mapping potential hydrogen sites, while regions in France, Spain, Russia, Australia, Albania, Colombia, South Korea, Canada, and Eastern Europe are believed to hold promising reserves. As of last year, around 40 global companies, including Gazprom (Russia) and HyTerra (USA), were actively involved in exploration. In India, potential hydrogen-rich areas include Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, the Himalayan belt, Maharashtra, Bundelkhand, and the Andaman Islands. Notably, the North East Institute of Science & Technology (CSIR-NEIST) in Jorhat has taken the lead in “white hydrogen” exploration, working closely with the government.

The positive effects of greater use of “white hydrogen” go well beyond just producing energy. It holds great promise for reducing emissions in some of the most polluting industries because of its high energy content, carbon-free nature, and ability to power economic energy sectors that are difficult to electrify, like steelmaking, cement manufacturing, shipping, and aviation. This makes “white hydrogen” a key player in the global move toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy system. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that up to 30% of the energy used in the transportation sector could come from hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels by 2050. The demand for hydrogen is predicted to increase more than fivefold as the world approaches carbon neutrality, necessitating the development of dependable manufacturing techniques and extensive infrastructure.

Despite the growing excitement around natural hydrogen, several challenges remain, and one of the most important is estimating how much of it can actually be extracted from the Earth’s subsurface for practical use. Attention is now shifting to the amount of hydrogen already stored underground. Some studies estimate that the Earth’s subsurface may contain anywhere from 1 billion to 10 trillion tonnes (1,000 to 10,000,000 megatons) of hydrogen. After analysing various data, researchers have arrived at a more conservative estimate of about 5.6 million megatons. Even if only 2% of this reserve is recoverable, it could potentially meet the world’s energy needs for the next 200 years. However, the journey ahead is not without challenges. Technologies designed for the detection of hydrogen are still in the early stages of development. Our understanding of the movement, accumulation, and entrapment of hydrogen underground continues to develop. Additionally, policy frameworks and investment incentives have yet to fully synchronise with this emerging energy sector. There is also a significant concern regarding environmental impacts, such as how the extraction of hydrogen could influence groundwater systems, local ecosystems, and seismic activity, which is still inadequately studied.

Nonetheless, the discovery of natural “white hydrogen” has opened an entirely new chapter in the energy narrative. It changes our perspective of hydrogen from being solely a product of human creation to also being a naturally occurring and potentially plentiful resource. As scientific studies advance and technology continues to develop, the chances of harnessing this vast and clean energy source become increasingly realistic. With rising global energy demands, urgent climate goals, and the limitations of existing hydrogen production methods, “white hydrogen” offers a refreshing and possibly transformative solution. What were once considered insignificant, occasional hydrogen seeps now present a new reality: that beneath our surface, the Earth might contain hidden stores of clean energy. As the world moves toward a low-carbon future, “white hydrogen” could emerge as a vital component of the global energy framework. All it takes is vision, investment, and a willingness to explore the unknown. Perhaps, in our shared journey toward a sustainable future, the most revolutionary resource has always been there as quiet, hidden and beneath the surface, waiting to be noticed. It reminds us that sometimes, the answers we seek lie not in creating something new, but in discovering what has long existed, just beyond our sight.