Scientists estimate that Earth already contains enough naturally occurring geologic hydrogen to meet global energy needs for 170,000 years.
The U.S. Department of Energy says this hydrogen could potentially be produced for under $1 per kilogram, which represents a fraction of current green hydrogen costs.
Canadian researchers have published findings in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment, highlighting vast hydrogen deposits within the Canadian Shield.
The research suggests these deposits could be economically viable, representing a significant shift in how the energy industry views underground hydrogen resources.
Startups such as Vema Hydrogen have already responded to the findings by beginning test drilling operations in Quebec.
The interest from emerging companies signals growing commercial confidence in geologic hydrogen as a practical and scalable energy source.
Significant technical hurdles still remain before geologic hydrogen can be widely extracted and used as a reliable energy supply.
Experts say that identifying optimal deposits and perfecting extraction methods will require major investment and considerable time to develop properly.
Despite the challenges, experts maintain that the potential payoff from unlocking geologic hydrogen reserves justifies the level of effort and capital required.
The findings represent a major moment for the global energy transition, as naturally occurring hydrogen could dramatically reduce dependence on costly and emissions-heavy fuel production methods.
