Posted on 03/22/2025 7:41:34 PM PDT by Red Badger
This discovery positions France to lead the charge in hydrogen production, boosting local economies.
Hydrogen renewable energy tanks in facility on the woods. (Representational image)
iStock
Scientists in France have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform clean energy production. Beneath the soil of Folschviller, in the Moselle region, researchers have uncovered an astonishing 46 million tons of natural hydrogen.
This unexpected find has the potential to reshape global energy strategies by providing a new source of carbon-free fuel.
The discovery was made by scientists from the GeoRessources laboratory and the CNRS while they were searching for methane. Instead, at a depth of 4,101 feet (1,250 meters), they found an enormous deposit of white hydrogen.
This form of hydrogen is naturally occurring and does not require industrial production, unlike green hydrogen, which is made using renewable energy, or gray hydrogen, which is derived from fossil fuels.
To put this discovery into perspective, the newly found deposit represents more than half of the world’s annual gray hydrogen production—but without the environmental costs. If extracted efficiently, this resource could provide a clean, low-cost energy solution that eliminates CO₂ emissions entirely. Media reports estimate the discovery’s value to be approximately $92 billion.
White hydrogen: A game-changer for clean energy
For years, the hydrogen industry has faced two major challenges: the high cost of producing green hydrogen and the pollution caused by gray hydrogen. White hydrogen offers a solution to both problems. Since it already exists underground, it does not require energy-intensive processes like electrolysis, nor does it rely on fossil fuels.
If similar hydrogen deposits exist elsewhere, this could signal the beginning of a major shift in energy production worldwide. Countries that previously depended on expensive hydrogen production technologies may suddenly find themselves with a natural supply of this clean fuel.
The installation for monitoring underground gas levels, capable of taking measurements at depths down to 1,100 metres. Image credits: Laeticia Vançon pour GéoRessources
Dr. Jacques Pironon, a scientist involved in the study, highlighted the importance of this discovery: “Our research suggests that natural hydrogen could be far more abundant than previously thought. If we can find efficient ways to extract and use it, we may have a powerful new tool in the fight against climate change.”
This revelation could lead to an international race to locate and extract natural hydrogen reserves, potentially altering the global energy market and reducing reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
A close-up view from above of the SysMoG™ probe in position before being lowered into the borehole. The monitoring device was miniaturised to fit into a shaft 6 cm in diameter. Image credits: Laeticia Vançon pour GéoRessources
France’s opportunity to lead the hydrogen revolution
Lorraine, a region historically known for its coal and steel industries, is now at the center of a major energy breakthrough. This discovery offers France a unique opportunity to establish itself as a leader in white hydrogen production.
If properly developed, the hydrogen reserves in Moselle could create thousands of jobs, boost the local economy, and position France as a key player in Europe’s clean energy transition. Experts believe that tapping into these resources could strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
On a global scale, France’s success in extracting white hydrogen could encourage other nations to conduct their own geological surveys. Pironon emphasized the importance of further research: “We need to understand the full potential of these hydrogen reservoirs and develop safe, efficient methods to extract them.”
As the world moves toward greener energy solutions, France’s discovery of white hydrogen could mark the beginning of a new era in sustainable power.
They’re not interested, which is why they’re the world’s fourth largest nuclear power.
Just one worker and a Gauloises and it’s all over.....
I doubt it.
Dirigibles!
Not sure if you were looking for a serious answer, I never can tell on this website. However, when hydrogen is generated by electrolysis, oxygen is a byproduct. Capturing both is going on here
Even if it was deep underground, how did 46 million tons of hydrogen not find anything to react with?
Temperature supposedly 72 to 87 degrees higher than surface at 4,000 feet below. This increases reactivity.
As I already remarked, the first image appears to be a stock photo and doesn't really have any bearing on the article's actual topic. In fact, the caption reads:
Hydrogen renewable energy tanks in facility on the woods. (Representational image) [my emphasis]...lending credence to my assumption.
The hydrogen find in France has nothing to do with "renewable energy." But I suppose that some people (though certainly not FReepers!) need occasional reminding that hydrogen (and oxygen) are gases, and that they can be liquefied and stored in tanks. Duh!
Out of annoyance, I was engaging in a little intellectual game of inventing a contrived explanation as to how the photo might yet be seen as pertinent to the article. Sorry if you thought that I was unironically "casting about" for a legitimate explanation.
Regards,
Are talking about nuclear weapons? Or about nuclear power plants?
The top four countries generating electricity from nuclear energy are: 1. United States: Produces the highest amount of nuclear electricity, with 779 TWh in 2023. 2. China: Comes second, generating 406 TWh in 2023. 3. France: Known for its reliance on nuclear power, producing 324 TWh in 2023. 4. Russia: Generates 204 TWh of nuclear electricity.-Wikipedia
The top four nuclear powers, based on the size of their nuclear arsenals, are: 1. Russia: With approximately 5,580 nuclear warheads, it holds the largest arsenal globally, with a total yield of approx. 1,000 megatons. 2. United States: Close behind, with around 5,044 nuclear warheads. Total yield: estimated at 800 megatons. 3. China: Estimated to have about 500 nuclear warheads. Approx. 50 megatons. 4. France: Maintains a stockpile of approximately 290 nuclear warheads with a total yield of about 40 megatons.-Wikipedia
Forgive me if my pedantry annoys you!
Regards,
Regards,
Science class was a lot easier back in those days!
Regards,
Same reason underground deposits of oil and (highly flammable!) methane "don't find anything to react with."
Temperature supposedly 72 to 87 degrees higher than surface at 4,000 feet below. This increases reactivity.
Take a vessel filled with pure hydrogen gas. Now throw some basalt, quartz, hornblende, and whatever other common minerals you have lying about (or which are commonly found at 4,000 ft below the Earth's surface) into the vessel. Heck: Add some pure oxygen gas, if you please!
Now raise the temperature to 400 °F. What do you think will happen?
Answer: Nothing!
Or maybe think of it this way: There may have initially been far more hydrogen in this deposit - maybe a hundred times as much! - but over the eons, 99% of it reacted with other substances to form inert compounds, leaving only this paltry 46 million tons of hydrogen gas behind for us to "discover!"
Regards,
hydrogen embrittlement —> boom
“They actually found a hydrogen well”
Geological hhydrogen is not uncommon. Where you have mafic rock, that is hot and under pressure introducing meteoric water causes the mafic metals in the rocks to strip oxygen atoms from the water as those metals have a higher affinity for oxygen than the hydrogen in the water. You get metal oxides and H2 under pressure. Th at H2 then needs to migrate upwards and be trapped somehow. Shales do a good job as do tight sandstones. It’s little surprise they found trapped hydrogen with and while looking for natural gas the trap structures are.identical. This is also how you find helium produced from radioactive decay of uranium in granitic rocks. Look for the natural gas traps and test it to see if it also trapped helium.
White hydrogen has great potential in rift systems as you have mafic rocks shallow and with access to meteoric water. The USA has a huge former rift system right down the middle of it. The Mississippi River flows down the heart of the rift system. It failed to complete its rift but the mafics are there and so should the hydrogen be as well. It boils down to what is the drilling and production costs. The traps will certainly be tight so hydraulic fracturing and directional drilling will be needed for sure, neither is cheap.
The cost calculus will be, what is cheaper using off peak electrons and increasingly more curtailment electrons when there is too much power on the grid to split water into hydrogen or directional drilling and fracking it out of the ground. Texas has gone negative power rates into the minus $10 range multiple times in the last two weeks for 6+ hours at a time due to the wind howling in West Texas flooding the grid with so much power they where paying people to take it. Earlier in the week at noon Texas was 74% wind and solar combined for the entire 60,000MW ERCOT.grid it went above 70% 4 times in the last week as well. We had two major frontal systems bringing 50mph winds across the whole state. This is what gold hydrogen must compete with. If you can get 1 or 2 cent power ,and use modern precious metal free electrolysis at capex of $300 or less per KG then you get 55 cent to $1 per KG H2 that is a tough price to beat with drilling and fracking. You don’t even need freshwater in fact brackish works better freshwater won’t conduct ions. It’s a race to see which is going to scale to be cheaper in production price.
The USA has huge brackish water reserves right where the wind and sun is.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/WR006i005p01454
https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs075-03/
https://newatlas.com/energy/geologic-hydrogen-gold-rush/
It makes zero sense to use hydrogen to make synthetic fuels. One KG of H2 has the lower heating value of one US gallon of petrol. About 130MJ...the molar ratios for FT hydrocarbons synthesis with CO is 1:3 CO/H2 with CO2 you must first split CO2 to CO + H2O so it’s 1:4 CO2/H2
One KG of H2 takes 55.2 kWh to make and it takes at 99% FT process eff 1.38KG of H2 plus 8.5KG CO2 per gal of octane.
It should be immediately obvious why it is a terrible idea to use hydrogen from any source for FT hydrocarbons synthesis.One gallon of octane which would send your average sedan 30 miles down the road.
Only direct hydrogen use makes sense a fuel cell vehicle will send a sedan 75 miles on a KG this is still pikers compared to just using the electrons directly.
55.2 kWh of electrons into the pack sends a 5 passenger Model 3 Tesla 220 miles at 250 watt hours per mile which is high I have seen as low as 90 in city gridlock traffic and 180 wh/mi is typical for urban run about with the A.C. Running.
I doubt geological hydrogen will hit $1 KG at $2KG before taxes,profit,distribution,and retail fees FT synthesis would cost $5.4-5.9 per gallon. Cutting the hydrogen in half doesn’t half that price either.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212982021000263
Kind of like you.
Thank you for the explanation.
“Storing Hydrogen can be a bit of a problem. It can migrate through steel, which has been a problem with hydrogen cars”
You store hydrogen in steel, you store it in carbon fiber composite tanks lined with double layers of polymers and aluminum..
“manufacturers often achieving permeation rates in the 10^-3 mbar l/s range, though typical allowable rates are in the 10^-2 mbar l/s range. “
At those kinds of leak rates a 700 bar composite H2 tank lined with aluminum would take 70+ years to reach zero bar. We come to the 21st century. Humans solved hydrogen storage decades ago its boomer FUD and superstition that persists. Hydrogen is used in millions of tonnes per year by the petrochemical and fertilizer industries. Texas has 200+ miles of high pressure hydrogen pipelines all over the Gulf of America petrochemical.complex as far as Louisiana. It’s stored in liquid form look for the spherical tanks at refineries. Or in compressed form look for ISO container sized 9-16 tank bundles. Hydrogen storage is an issue from the past century as is metal fatigue modern allows of aluminum, magnesium or speciality high nickel.chrome steels all take hydrogen what do you think those giant hydrocrack reactors are made of its not plastic its steel lined with ceramics of the temps get high enough.
The 21st century is a grand place to be embrace it.
"the Gulf of America petrochemical.complex as far as Louisiana" Yes, the Gulf of America!
I was talking about arsenals.
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