Op-Ed: Discovery of ‘white’ hydrogen hailed as ‘second revolution’ for the energy industry

Industry expert Gary Szendzielarz discusses the potential of the recent discovery of a massive deposit of natural hydrogen in France in this op-ed.

In what is being called a game-changer in terms of scientific research, a new gas-detecting probe has been able to find what could be up to 250 million tons of so-called “white” hydrogen, a naturally occurring form of hydrogen, in Lorraine, France.  And this isn’t the first discovery of the holy-grail of clean energy, either.

In 1987, a group of people were drilling for water in Mali when they were suddenly burned by an expulsion of gas; hydrogen.  Without a working way to collect that hydrogen, it was capped and sealed until 2012 when a use was found.  Since then, clean natural hydrogen from that well has been powering people’s homes in that part of Mali – ten years later that well shows no sign of running out.

It seems that natural hydrogen was not even a consideration for the fuel industry, with most energy companies adopting blue or grey hydrogen, basically still harmful to our climate, and many searching for efficient ways to get to green hydrogen, a task which is only now beginning to bear fruit.  However, recent discoveries of white hydrogen are beginning to get noticed, and according to geochemist, Geoffrey Ellis in an interview with CNN, it could be a “second revolution.”

White hydrogen has been found in some shape or form across the globe.  In fact, there could be billions of tons of white hydrogen out there just waiting to be tapped.  Drilling in Australia could be fully operational by late 2024, and start-ups are hurriedly trying to get in on the action.  In fact, current calculations from Mali show that production costs will be as little as a dollar a kilogram, meaning we could be in for a new oil rush.

“The heavy industry and transportation sectors need more hydrogen, but it's too expensive to make compared to coal and diesel. Right now, making hydrogen from natural gas costs between $3 and $5 per kilogram, and it depends on oil prices,” says Michel Hinfelaar of Haia Consulting, one of the industry’s leading experts on hydrogen distribution. 

“Making hydrogen from clean sources, like using electricity, is even pricier, at around $6.5 per kilogram. To make hydrogen a cheaper and greener option, we need to reduce production costs to about $1 per kilogram. White hydrogen could be a game-changer for these industries because they can't rely only on electricity. If we can make hydrogen more affordable, it will help us reach our 2050 targets,” he adds.

In Canada, RL Energies is one of the fastest growing energy businesses in Canada.  Aside from petrol stations, RL is massively investing into alternative energy, with a huge rollout of chargers underway right now.  Eric Larouche, CEO of RL Energies, is always looking out for advancements in the industry, and he was quick to recognize the benefits of white hydrogen.  “The exploitation of natural hydrogen on such a scale and at such a low cost could revolutionize the energy market in North America and Canada. Not only would it strengthen energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, but it could also hasten the transition to a low-carbon economy, promoting sustainable growth and innovation across the industry.”

Hydrogen still faces several obstacles – transporting and storage hydrogen remains complex, expensive, and dangerous.  Additionally, Michel Hinfelaar is quick to point out that fuel-cell cars require a far higher purity, something which may not be afforded by white hydrogen. 

This complexity may have a solution, though. Toyota, Hyundai and many German manufacturers are already working on converted internal combustion engines which can run on hydrogen, and some experts say low-cost conversion kits could be a saviour for the second-hand car market, especially in regions in which long-distance travel and electricity scarcity remains an issue. “For ICE the use of hydrogen can be more compelling, especially when combined with white hydrogen, as it doesn't require the same level of purity as fuel cells,” Hinfelaar points out.

However, electricity is also not without challenges.  Critics of electric vehicles are quick to point out the damage effects of lithium extraction, the challenges of recycling, and the risk of fire, which whilst something which also affects ICE cars, EVs are markedly harder to extinguish.  But that might not be the biggest challenge.  Retailers and charger providers are increasingly concerned about the lack of infrastructure from the electricity providers.  In the majority of countries, significant investment is required into replacing the mains capacity, which would only increase as EV usage increases.                                               

White hydrogen and electricity are not the only fuels being considered lately.  Experts are calling for increased investment and research into ammonia. A combustible liquid produced primarily for agriculture, ammonia was long believed to produce toxins when burned.  However, research has not only shown that it is clean for the environment, it has a far higher energy density than even liquid hydrogen, and is easier to produce.  Additionally, thanks to its use in agriculture, a vast infrastructure for ammonia is already in place. 

If there is one thing for certain, however, this decade remains very much a Betamax vs VHS moment for our industry.  It remains to be seen what will end up being the fuel of choice of the future.

Written by Gary Szendzielarz. Find him on LinkedIn.

The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author.

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