A new first-of-its-kind map has identified potential locations of naturally occurring geologic hydrogen resources in the contiguous United States—a potentially huge untapped future energy source.
Promising areas for hydrogen exploration across the country include Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, the Four Corners region, the California coast and the Eastern seaboard, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Amid renewed calls to boost domestic energy production, including President Donald Trump’s famous “drill, baby, drill” rallying cry, these findings present a cleaner, more sustainable alternative potentially hidden beneath the nation’s surface.
Why This Matters
As global energy systems pivot toward decarbonization, hydrogen is emerging as a key player in the clean energy transition.
Both fossil fuels and geologic hydrogen are naturally occurring, but unlike fossil fuels, geologic hydrogen is a carbon-free energy source. It holds the potential to power challenging-to-decarbonize sectors, such as aviation, where traditional renewables often fall short.
“For decades, the conventional wisdom was that naturally occurring hydrogen did not accumulate in sufficient quantities to be used for energy purposes,” Sarah Ryker, USGS associate director for energy and minerals, said in a statement.
“This map is tantalizing because it shows that several parts of the U.S. could have a subsurface hydrogen resource after all.”
What is Geologic Hydrogen?
Geologic hydrogen, also known as natural hydrogen, is hydrogen gas trapped in the Earth’s subsurface. Unlike hydrogen produced through processes such as steam methane reforming or water electrolysis, geologic hydrogen occurs naturally, much like oil or natural gas.
Historically, geologists believed naturally occurring hydrogen to be too scarce or dispersed for energy use, but recent discoveries and technological advancements challenge this assumption.
USGS geologists estimate the energy potential of recoverable geologic hydrogen could be double that of proven natural gas reserves globally.
Expertise from the fossil fuel industry, which has been drilling for gas for decades, could be used to identify and extract geologic hydrogen from the ground.
What Does the Map Show?
The new USGS map offers a continental-scale view of the potential for naturally occurring hydrogen across the U.S.
Each region on the map is assigned a prospectivity value between 0 and 1, with higher values (indicated in deep blue) representing areas more likely to contain hydrogen accumulations.
While the map provides a broad overview, it does not pinpoint exact locations or predict how much hydrogen is present.
Instead, it serves as a tool for researchers and industry stakeholders to identify areas for further exploration. The USGS intends to update the map as scientific understanding and exploration methods evolve.
What is Hydrogen Used For?
Hydrogen is a versatile feedstock used in various industrial applications, including petroleum refining, steel manufacturing and fertilizer production.
Currently, hydrogen’s use as an energy source is limited to relatively niche applications. However, demand for hydrogen is projected to more than double by 2030 as nations strive to meet 2050 decarbonization targets. Much of this growth must come from clean sources of hydrogen, such as geologic deposits.
Hydrogen-based fuels could play a crucial role in hard-to-electrify sectors, such as aviation, shipping and heavy industry, filling gaps where renewable electricity and bioenergy fall short.
What Challenges Remain?
Despite its potential, significant challenges must be addressed before geologic hydrogen can become a mainstream energy resource.
One major hurdle is the difficulty of exploration. While millions of oil and gas wells have been drilled, they have still detected only trace amounts of hydrogen. Many of the identified hydrogen deposits may be located too deep underground, too far offshore or in quantities too small to be economically viable.
In addition to technical barriers, there are economic and regulatory challenges. Financing for hydrogen exploration and development remains uncertain, and unclear demand forecasts complicate market growth.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about hydrogen? Let us know via [email protected].
The post Map Reveals Where US Could ‘Drill, Baby, Drill’ for Clean Hydrogen appeared first on Newsweek.
