Because of its high efficiency and sustainability, hydrogen could play an important role in the energy transition. Aside from its industrial production, it exists naturally in the form of deposits that are still largely untapped. Explainer.
Among the various energy sources, hydrogen stands out for its exceptional energy density. Its combustion indeed releases three times more energy than propane or methane for an equivalent mass. By producing only water vapor and no carbon dioxide, it constitutes a clean alternative to fossil fuels, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the fight against climate change.
For several years, hydrogen has been seen as an energy carrier likely to play a role in the energy transition. Although it could, in the long term, power vehicles and airplanes, its main use today concerns industry.
More specifically, hydrogen is used as a reagent in metallurgy and chemistry, notably for the synthesis of ammonia, mainly intended for fertilizer production, as well as for the manufacture of methanol, used among other things in the production of plastics, varnishes and paints, but also as a fuel.
"Different sectors are particularly demanding of hydrogen, notably in metallurgy and petrochemicals," says Jean Gaucher, development manager at Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult, a company specializing in the exploration of hydrogen deposits present in their natural state, also called white hydrogen.
Present in its raw state in the Earth's subsurface, this resource arouses the interest of many large industrial players. "Currently, they mainly use hydrogen whose price is directly linked to fossil fuels, since 90% of its production relies on their use, in particular methane. As for alternative methods, such as water electrolysis powered by renewable electricity, they remain too costly for large-scale adoption. Hence the interest in natural hydrogen, the cost of which would be comparable to that of hydrogen produced from methane (1 CHF/kg)," explains Jean Gaucher.
"Currently, industrial players mainly use hydrogen whose price is directly linked to fossil fuels, since 90% of its production relies on their use, particularly methane," explains Jean Gaucher, development manager at Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult.
Although its exploitation is technically feasible, its concentration varies according to deposits, which requires intensifying research and exploration work to precisely assess their potential and ensure the profitability of drilling projects.
In short, the development of white hydrogen recalls the early years of enthusiasm for oil exploitation. Each era has its energy paradigm, driven by the resources discovered and the growing demand of industry.
Natural hydrogen reserves have reportedly been identified in Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan, as well as in several regions of Africa. However, their precise mapping remains a challenge, requiring additional public investments.
"This is the case within the European Union, where only two million euros were invested for the first time this year, while in the United States the Department of Energy has already injected 20 million dollars into this type of exploration project in 2024," adds Jean Gaucher.
Private investments, for their part, have exceeded half a billion dollars in the United States, while in Europe, notably in France, several start-ups have entered the race. Witness the young start-up Vema, which has just completed an initial $13 million fundraising round, led by Extantia Capital and Propeller Ventures.
The American start-up, whose French subsidiary is responsible for all R&D, stands out for a highly innovative technology. It is developing an approach that consists of stimulating iron-rich rock by injecting water into it in order to accelerate natural hydrogen production.
If some pilot explorations exist, they remain marginal on a global scale. Mali appears to be the only country actively exploiting a deposit since 2011, at Bourakébougou, near Bamako. This site, fortuitously discovered in 1987 during a drilling, produces a gas composed of 98% hydrogen, allowing the village to be supplied with clean electricity.
"Although modest compared to industrial demand, this exploitation, which can be described as artisanal, nevertheless has the merit of demonstrating the usefulness and feasibility of projects based on natural hydrogen," adds Jean Gaucher.
Recently, Switzerland launched research on natural hydrogen. A project, led by the University of Bern with the support of the Federal Office of Energy, aims to identify possible formations of white hydrogen in the Swiss subsurface.
"The first observations are promising: iron-rich rocks that favor hydrogen production are present in the Alps, notably in Graubünden, Valais and Ticino. These formations result from the tectonic collision that gave rise to the Alpine chain," details the development manager of Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult, involved in the project.
However, before considering industrial exploitation, it is necessary to confirm the presence of exploitable reserves. Elsewhere in the world, this step has already been taken, notably in France (Pyrenees, Lorraine), Australia and the United States, where deep drillings are underway.
"The first observations are promising: iron-rich rocks that favor hydrogen production are present in the Alps, notably in Graubünden, Valais and Ticino," explains Jean Gaucher.
A deposit recently uncovered in France could contain up to 46 million tonnes of hydrogen, or nearly half of the annual world production. This discovery accelerated the revision of the French mining code to facilitate the exploration of this resource. In Switzerland, the question of its legal framework would fall to the cantons.
The environmental impact would moreover remain limited. Indeed, once carried out, a drilling would affect the ground surface only over a few dozen square meters, the hydrogen then being transported by pipeline.
White hydrogen would finally present significant economic advantages, not to mention that, a priori, it could be produced continuously by the Earth's crust. "This point remains to be confirmed, but it does seem that, unlike oil deposits, which result from millions of years of accumulation in sedimentary basins that captured oil and gas, white hydrogen is generated in pulses depending on the hydration of the source rocks buried deep, from where it then rises to the surface under the effect of plate tectonics, notably," adds geochemist Éric C. Gaucher, CEO of Lavoisier H2 Geoconsult.
White hydrogen therefore represents an asset in the context of the global energy transition. Its renewable nature and low carbon impact make it a candidate to gradually replace fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the development of this sector still requires major advances in research and infrastructure. An evolution to be closely watched.
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