Researchers have accidentally found a mega-stock of white hydrogen in Lorraine, France estimated around 46 million tons. It is the largest quantity found to date worldwide.
White hydrogen is naturally occurring hydrogen. The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Lorraine, who were actually looking for methane.
They used a new technology, for which they developed the SysMoG probe in collaboration with the company Solexperts: a tool with which they could analyze the gas dissolved in water in rock formations up to 1,200 meters deep, while respecting the environment. “A world first,” says research director Jacques Pironon.
“After chemically monitoring the rock layers and associated methane deposits, we were surprised to find that a large amount of hydrogen was present and that its concentration increased as we descended, reaching 20% at 1250 meters depth. Such levels allowed us to speculate that hydrogen levels 3,000 meters underground could exceed 90% according to our models. Based on gas data 1100 meters underground (14% hydrogen), the Lorraine deposit could contain up to 46 million tons of white hydrogen, representing more than half of the world’s current annual gray hydrogen production.”
This is in addition to France’s other potential white hydrogen reserves currently being explored in the Alps, New Caledonia and the Pyrenees. Together, these resources could enable France to produce three million tons of gas per year.
There may also be untapped deposits in the US, Australia and elsewhere in Europe, including Spain, Germany, Kosovo, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Poland, Serbia, Norway, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan. Launched in 2014, the well in Bourakébougou, western Mali, is to date the only white hydrogen site in the world that is actually being exploited. Its production fluctuates around 5 tons per year. Global gray hydrogen production is currently estimated at 80 million tons per year.
To win
To extract the supply in Lorraine, it must first be proven that the hydrogen is evenly distributed in a basin with an area of 490 km2. This can be done with the SysMoG probe. The team must then demonstrate that the concentration of hydrogen continues to grow at depths greater than 1,200 meters. The researchers propose an excavation to a depth of 3,000 meters to demonstrate this.
A number of commercial and institutional partners, both French and international, are interested in financing the project. However, the French state still needs to be convinced of the value of this initiative and issue the permits. The team hopes to start in the first quarter of 2024 and expects a duration of 3-4 years.
Lorraine has traditionally been a mining region in the coal and steel sector, where many closures are still taking place. This makes it easier because the population is familiar with the geology and skills of the extractive industry.