A new study suggests that Earth may possess a vast, untapped energy source — trillions of tons of hydrogen gas buried deep beneath the surface.
The best part? It could power the world for centuries.
According to research led by Geoffrey Ellis of the U.S. Geological Survey, these hidden hydrogen reserves could provide enough energy to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels for 1,000 years.
This hydrogen is naturally formed through geochemical processes. Scientists estimate that the total reserves could reach approximately 6.2 trillion tons (5.6 trillion metric tons), making it a promising low-carbon energy source.
Some hydrogen deposits have already been discovered in Albania and Mali. However, researchers believe similar reserves may exist worldwide.
Even so, much of this hydrogen may be buried too deep or located offshore, making large-scale extraction challenging.
The study, published in Science Advances, suggests that tapping into just 2% of the estimated reserves could meet global hydrogen demand for 200 years, contributing to net-zero carbon goals.
The energy contained in these reserves surpasses that of all proven natural gas deposits, highlighting hydrogen’s potential as a clean alternative.
However, Professor Bill McGuire of University College London warns that developing the infrastructure to extract hydrogen at scale would require a massive global effort.
Despite the challenges, this study underscores the need for further research into geologic hydrogen, which could play a key role in the transition to sustainable energy.
More detail: science.org
