Companies in dozens of countries are actively drilling wells in hopes of finding underground reservoirs of pure hydrogen. If these reserves prove to be vast and extractable, humanity will gain an environmentally clean energy source capable of replacing fossil fuels. This carbon-free fuel releases only water vapor when burned; if estimates of underground resources are confirmed, this naturally occurring hydrogen could meet the planet’s needs for two centuries.
Massive underground reservoirs of pure hydrogen could transform the energy sector
Natural hydrogen seepage in Albania. Data from deep mines confirms that hydrogen can accumulate underground in large volumes. In 2024, researchers recorded that at least 200 tons of pure hydrogen are released annually at a chromite mine in Albania. This is one of the highest rates of natural gas flow ever recorded by scientists. The gas must be constantly pumped out to prevent explosions.
For a long time, geologists believed that natural hydrogen did not accumulate underground due to microbial activity and the small size of hydrogen molecules, which allow them to easily permeate rock formations. However, the discovery of a large deposit in Mali and data from deep mines have prompted scientists to revise their views.
At a depth of nearly one kilometer in the Bulqizë mine in Albania, researchers discovered a reservoir where hydrogen is being released at a high rate.
Analysis suggests that underground reserves could amount to tens of trillions of tons. Investors are currently pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into exploration, while experts are trying to determine how widespread this resource is. Exploration efforts are underway across the globe—from Canada to Australia. If the hypothesis is confirmed, geological hydrogen could enable the creation of a new hydrogen economy characterized by minimal greenhouse gas emissions and significantly lower energy costs.
Exploration Challenges and Development Prospects
Researchers collected groundwater samples from boreholes drilled to depths of up to 3 km. This water contains dissolved natural hydrogen. Ontario, Canada.
Despite the high potential, researchers have yet to assess the actual volumes of available gas and the specific nature of its deposits. Hydrogen is generated through the interaction of iron-rich rocks with water or via radioactive decay, yet the mechanisms governing its migration and entrapment beneath impermeable rock layers remain insufficiently understood. To improve exploration accuracy, scientists utilize satellite data and magnetometry to identify the most promising drilling sites.
Experts emphasize the critical importance of practical results from new wells scheduled for drilling in the coming years. As David Waltham, a geophysicist at the University of Edinburgh, notes: “At this stage, we still do not know whether we are dealing with a near-total absence of resources or if this gas is literally everywhere.” Exploration is ongoing, and initial proof-of-concept results are expected within the next two to three years.
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