New Geophysical Estimates Reveal Natural Hydrogen Production Rates

An international team led by the LIAG Institute for Applied Geophysics has published new estimates for natural hydrogen production, indicating approximately 308 tonnes per year in the Western Pyrenees and 515 tonnes per year in Northern California. These values are significantly lower than previous projections, which suggested hundreds of thousands to millions of tonnes annually, highlighting the need for more realistic assessments in energy resource exploration.

The study utilized gravity, magnetic, and seismic data to model hydrogen generation under actual geological conditions, improving the accuracy of resource estimates. The findings suggest targeting exploration programs more effectively and indicate that large accumulations are possible but require specific geological conditions and time. The research included the development of an open-source tool, PoNHy, to facilitate global exploration.