
A new study has found that mountains could hide vast reserves of white hydrogen, raising hopes for a clean energy source that could help fight the climate crisis.
White hydrogen, also known as natural or geological hydrogen, has recently attracted attention as a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Although its existence in the Earth's crust was theorized only a few decades ago, scientists have been working to understand how it forms and where it can be found in large quantities.
A team of researchers used computer models to simulate the movement of tectonic plates and identify regions with favorable conditions for the production of white hydrogen. The study, published in the journal Science Advances, suggests that mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees and the European Alps could be epicenters of this energy source.
Hydrogen is a clean fuel that produces only water when burned. However, most commercial hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, reducing its climate benefits. Therefore, white hydrogen, which is naturally found on Earth, is seen as a great opportunity.
This gas is formed naturally through several processes, including radioactivity in the Earth's crust and the reaction between water and iron-rich rocks from the Earth's mantle. The study suggests that these rocks, exposed due to geological processes, can create significant amounts of white hydrogen.
Early exploration for this energy source has begun in France, the Balkans, and the U.S. However, challenges remain, including finding large, exploitable reserves and developing efficient methods for extracting and transporting it.
Researchers believe that white hydrogen could have a major impact on the energy industry, but it will take decades to commercialize it. Like oil once did, white hydrogen could become a major energy source in the future.