What is Natural Hydrogen?
What Natural Hydrogen Is
Natural hydrogen today is what the oil and gas industry was in the early 1900s – a new, economic energy resource, with the biggest difference being the lack of CO2. It can be the world’s first primary energy source in decades, offering clean, low-carbon power from deposits below the earth’s surface.
Using similar geoscience fundamentals of oil and gas extraction, Canada has the chance to do something incredible: harness energy from a low-cost, low-emissions resource that may naturally exist in abundance.
From Rock and Water to Clean Energy
Formed deep underground through natural chemical processes between water and iron-rich rock, most of the work is done for us.
Research indicates the planet releases tens of millions of tonnes of natural hydrogen each year and has been for millions of years. If we tap into only a minor fraction of what’s trapped in the earth, we will have discovered enormous volumes of clean energy.
Redefining Canada’s Path to Clean Energy
Natural hydrogen breaks the paradigm for expected uses of clean hydrogen, due to its cost and scale. Instead of limited, subsidized uses, natural hydrogen unlocks industrial-scale, economically and environmentally sustainable solutions.
Clean Drop-In Fuels
(ex. Sustainable Aviation Fuel, e-NG)
Baseload Clean Power for Datacentres
Clean Fertilizer
Clean Heavy Transport Fuels
(Marine and Trucking)
24/7 Clean Grid Power
Industrial Decarbonization
(ex. Clean Steel)
Uses
Natural Hydrogen Benefits
Natural Hydrogen vs. Common Methods of Hydrogen Production
Electrolysis
Uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing “green hydrogen” when powered by renewables. Energy-intensive and very high cost.
Traditional
Produces hydrogen from natural gas through steam methane reforming (SMR). A proven but carbon-intensive process.
SMR+CCS
Uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing “green hydrogen” when powered by renewables. Energy-intensive and very high cost.
Natural
Extracts naturally occurring hydrogen from underground formations, similar to how natural gas is produced. Low cost and low CO2 impact.
Answers to More of Your Questions
What is natural hydrogen, exactly?
Natural hydrogen, also known as geologic hydrogen, is a safe and reliable clean energy source, created deep underground through natural processes. For millions of years, this clean, low-cost energy source has remained untapped, offering Canada a major opportunity to develop a new energy resource and unlock its economic potential.
Where is hydrogen found naturally?
It’s found within the Earth’s surface, deep underground, kilometres below freshwater aquifers. Geologic hydrogen is produced when water interacts with iron-rich rock. Our early evaluation suggests that there may be natural hydrogen resources in Canada at commercial scales.
How is hydrogen produced naturally?
Natural hydrogen is produced primarily through a geological process known as serpentinization. This is when water reacts with iron or magnesium-rich rocks, releasing hydrogen as a product.
How does natural hydrogen compare to other clean energy sources?
Natural hydrogen represents a clean, low-cost, baseload, primary energy source. It does not require large land, water or energy inputs and can produce 24/7, aligning with industrial applications that require constant production at costs that are competitive or superior to traditional energy sources.
Why natural hydrogen over other hydrogen sources?
Various other clean hydrogen production methods have been advanced in recent years (electrolyzers, steam methane reforming + carbon capture, gasification, etc.). However, these methods are energy-intensive, leading to unsustainable costs. For natural hydrogen, expected production costs will be lower than those of these alternatives, and with the ability to provide constant production levels, aligned with industrial processes.
What does natural hydrogen unlock?
The scale and low-cost nature of natural hydrogen unlocks industrial uses that are not contemplated for other methods of hydrogen production. These projects also create significant local economic opportunities by supporting multi-decade, on-site facilities such as ammonia plants, power stations, or fuel hubs. Each could bring significant regional investments, infrastructure projects, and long-duration end-use facilities, employing hundreds of people per site and forming a long-term economic backbone for the region.
Let’s Explore This Untapped Resource Together
Alongside our exclusive partner, Koloma, Kavenex applies proven data and subsurface expertise to responsibly develop natural hydrogen resources.
If you’re looking to understand the opportunity, we’re here to guide you.
