White/Geologic /Natural hydrogen

Why in News?  An article recently discusses the potential of natural hydrogen as a clean, sustainable fuel to meet growing global energy demands and combat climate change. Accompanied by an image of a 2,500 cubic-metre liquid hydrogen tank at Kobe Port Island plant in Japan, the article highlights hydrogen’s role in decarbonizing the world economy and suggests that natural hydrogen may be abundant, including in India.

 Relevance :

 Mains : UPSC Mains GS Papers

GS I: Geography/GS 3 Green Energy /Sustainable Growth

Key points discussed in  the article:

How does hydrogen occur naturally in the environment?

Natural hydrogen is formed through geological processes within the Earth’s crust. Key mechanisms include:

• Serpentinization: The reaction of water with iron-rich rocks (e.g., ultramafic rocks) produces hydrogen as a byproduct. This process is prevalent in areas with specific geological formations like ophiolite complexes.
• Radiolysis: Radioactive rocks break down water molecules, releasing hydrogen. This occurs in deep subsurface environments with radioactive minerals.
• Organic Matter Degradation: Hydrogen can be generated from the breakdown of organic material, such as in coal mines or sedimentary basins, where microbial activity or heat transforms organic matter.

Globally, hundreds of hydrogen seeps have been cataloged in regions like Australia, the United States, France, and India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, indicating widespread natural occurrence. Recent discoveries, such as the 92 million tonnes found in France’s Lorraine and Moselle regions in 2023-2025, suggest significant underground deposits, potentially enough to meet global demand for thousands of years according to a U.S. Geological Survey model.

Why was it considered unviable to mine or harvest natural hydrogen?

Historically, mining or harvesting natural hydrogen was deemed unviable due to several challenges:

• Geological Curiosity Status: Until recently, hydrogen’s small molecular size and high reactivity were thought to prevent the formation of substantial underground reserves, limiting interest in exploration.
• Lack of Dedicated Frameworks: Unlike oil and gas, no established exploration or extraction methods existed, making it difficult to locate and extract economically.
• Technical Difficulties: Early discoveries (e.g., the 98% hydrogen gas found in Mali’s Bourakébougou borehole in 2012) were incidental, and the lack of infrastructure for storage, transport, and processing added to costs.
• Scientific Skepticism: The scientific community viewed natural hydrogen as a minor byproduct rather than a viable resource, focusing instead on produced hydrogen (e.g., gray or green hydrogen).

These factors delayed investment and technological development, keeping natural hydrogen extraction unfeasible until recent advancements and discoveries shifted perspectives.

Can Natural Hydrogen as a fuel meet growing global energy demands?

Natural hydrogen holds promise as a fuel to address escalating global energy needs, estimated to grow significantly by 2040 (e.g., India’s projected 15,820 TWh demand). Its potential includes:

• Clean Energy Source: Produced without carbon emissions during combustion or use in fuel cells, it could replace fossil fuels in hard-to-abate sectors like industry and transport.
• Abundance: The USGS model suggests reserves could supply global demand for millennia, with France’s 92 million tonnes (worth $92 billion) equating to half of current global production.
• Decarbonization: It could reduce CO2 emissions by millions of tonnes annually, aligning with net-zero targets (e.g., India’s 2070 goal).

However, challenges remain: the total size of reserves is poorly known due to limited exploration, and scaling extraction to meet demand (e.g., 20 million tonnes by 2030 per some estimates) requires significant infrastructure. While viable in theory, its practical contribution depends on technological and economic breakthroughs.

Why is it still an untapped industry?

Despite its potential, natural hydrogen remains an untapped industry due to:

• Limited Exploration: The lack of concentrated global efforts to map reserves, unlike oil or gas, stems from historical disinterest and evolving exploration frameworks.
• High Initial Costs: Developing extraction, storage (e.g., liquid hydrogen tanks like in Japan), and transport infrastructure requires substantial investment, deterring commercialization.
• Technological Gaps: Efficient mining and harvesting methods are still in early stages, with pilot projects only recently emerging (e.g., France’s 2025 excavations).
• Regulatory Uncertainty: The absence of standardized policies or incentives, unlike the National Green Hydrogen Mission for produced hydrogen, hinders industry growth.

• What is Natural Hydrogen? Natural hydrogen, also known as geological hydrogen or white hydrogen, is hydrogen gas (H₂) that occurs naturally in the Earth’s crust.  Unlike hydrogen produced through industrial processes (like green hydrogen from electrolysis or grey hydrogen from natural gas), natural hydrogen is found in underground reservoirs, often trapped by impermeable rock layers such as salt or clay.

  Competing Alternatives: Focus on green hydrogen (produced via renewable electrolysis) and other renewables diverts attention and funding from natural hydrogen.

Does India have Natural Hydrogen Reserves?

India likely has natural hydrogen reserves, supported by favorable geological conditions:

• Geological Structures: Hard rock formations (e.g., ultramafic/mafic, basaltic assemblages), ophiolite complexes in the Andaman and Himalayas, greenstone sequences in cratons (Dharwar, Singhbhum), and sedimentary basins (Vindhyan, Cuddapah) are conducive to hydrogen generation.
• Recent Discovery: The Geological Survey of India (GSI) identified natural hydrogen reserves in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in March 2025, marking India’s first confirmed find.
• Hydrothermal Systems: Active hot springs and fractured basement rocks suggest additional potential sites for exploration.

While exact reserve sizes are unquantified, India’s geological diversity positions it as a promising candidate. This aligns with the article’s suggestion of abundance, though further surveys are needed to confirm commercial viability.