Could hydrogen be hidden in the mountains?

Hydrogen’s potential as a clean energy source is well known, but the challenge has always been sourcing it sustainably. New research suggests that vast natural reserves of hydrogen gas may exist in Earth's mountain ranges, formed over millions of years through geological processes.

A team from the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences in Germany has used advanced simulations to study how hydrogen is naturally produced deep within the Earth’s mantle. Their findings, published in Science Advances, indicate that mountain formations may be a key location for accessing these reserves.

Natural hydrogen can be generated in several ways, including biological activity and radioactive decay. However, the most promising large-scale process is ‘serpentinisation’- a reaction between water and certain mantle rocks, which releases H₂ gas. These hydrogen-rich zones form when mantle rocks are pushed up to the surface through tectonic activity.

The study found that mountain formation creates the ideal conditions for this process. When compared to hydrogen generated through continental rifting, mountain-forming mechanisms were shown to produce 20 times more hydrogen. Indications of natural hydrogen have already been observed in the Pyrenees, Alps, and Balkans, suggesting that these and other mountain ranges could be prime locations for further exploration.

“Overall, we may be at a turning point for natural H₂ exploration,” said Dr Frank Zwaan, lead author of the study. “As such, we could be witnessing the birth of a new natural hydrogen industry.”

With the energy transition in full swing, identifying new sources of clean hydrogen is crucial. If these findings lead to viable extraction methods, natural hydrogen from mountains could become an important piece of the net zero puzzle.

Read more: Massive new energy source could be hiding in Earth’s mountains