13Gt of CO2 emissions avoided by 2050*.
Equivalent to one third of global annual CO2 output today.
*If half of future hydrogen demand switches from solar PV-generated green hydrogen to natural hydrogen from 2030.
Kanz et al, 2021; National Energy Technology Laboratory, 2022; Brandt, 2023
Due to the way natural hydrogen is generated and will be produced, its carbon emissions are expected to be consistently low when compared to other production technologies.
Natural hydrogen is generated in the continental crust when water reacts with common iron-rich volcanic rocks, forming iron oxide and hydrogen. Natural hydrogen is also formed when radioactive elements contained within rocks emit radiation that splits a water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen. The rocks react with the oxygen leaving hydrogen. Both processes can build up significant amounts of hydrogen on geological timescales.
Estimates vary substantially because we are still in the early stages of exploration. Snowfox expects only a fraction of the hydrogen generated in the continents to be trapped and preserved. However, because so much has been generated, even a small fraction will be enough to mitigate the current use of carbon-intensive 'grey' hydrogen.
Different geological combinations that generate and accumulate natural hydrogen can be found globally. Snowfox understands the processes that control these features and are identifying the most likely places to discover economically significant hydrogen resources.
Hydrogen behaves in a similar way to other gases. Once it has been generated in the Earth's crust, it rises towards the surface. Along the way it may become trapped by an impermeable layer of rock and accumulate underground, forming a gas field. It is accessed by drilling and produced from wells.
It is only in the last decade that the amount of hydrogen generated by the Earth’s continents was realised. With awareness of society’s need to decarbonise, interest in naturally occurring hydrogen has increased. A hydrogen gas field discovered in Mali in 1987 has recently been developed to supply local power needs, demonstrating that natural hydrogen resources are a reality.
Yes. Modelling shows that natural hydrogen has the potential to have the lowest carbon intensity. This is because there is no need to manufacture the hydrogen by the chemical reactions required in ‘grey’ or ‘green’ hydrogen. Processes in the Earth’s crust generate almost zero carbon. Natural hydrogen’s low emissions mostly come from the associated equipment and processes used to extract the hydrogen from the ground.
Snowfox modelling tells us so. Natural hydrogen production uses established technologies. It is projected to cost significantly less than hydrogen produced by electrolysis using wind or solar (green) hydrogen. Natural hydrogen competes on price with carbon-intensive ‘grey’ hydrogen, which is the predominant method of production today.
Today, hydrogen is a U$170bn industry, producing 95 million tonnes used per year. It is a vital, irreplaceable chemical feedstock for ammonia, methanol and in metal refining. Fertiliser produced from the ammonia contributes to feeding half of the global population. Tomorrow's hydrogen demand will significantly expand with uses as a clean-burning fuel.
