Natural hydrogen discovery offers unlimited energy

A new study from Oxford, Durham and Toronto universities could unlock a vast, low-emission energy source capable of powering humanity for 170,000 years.

Published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, the research outlines a detailed strategy—an “exploration recipe”—for identifying and extracting natural hydrogen stored deep in the Earth’s crust.

This breakthrough could dramatically accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels, while addressing soaring global energy demand.

Hydrogen is already a $135 billion global market, essential for fertilisers and industrial chemicals. By 2050, demand is expected to surge to 540 million metric tonnes annually.

However, nearly all hydrogen today is produced from hydrocarbons, generating 2.4% of global CO₂ emissions. Natural hydrogen, formed underground over millions of years, offers a carbon-free alternative.

The study confirms that hydrogen accumulates not in the Earth’s mantle, as once believed, but in the crust—within a wide range of geological formations.

“These systems are globally distributed,” the authors state, indicating broad accessibility.

Professor Chris Ballentine, lead author from the University of Oxford, explained: “One successful exploration recipe that is repeatable will unlock a commercially competitive, low-carbon hydrogen source that would significantly contribute to the energy transition.”

The team also identified potential obstacles, including underground microbes that consume hydrogen.

“Avoiding environments that bring them into contact with the hydrogen is important in preserving hydrogen in economic accumulations,” said Professor Barbara Sherwood Lollar.

If commercialised, natural hydrogen could become a reliable and scalable pillar of global decarbonisation efforts.