Scientists Share 'Exploration Recipe' For Powering Earth For Millennia
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Beneath our feet, there’s a source of clean energy that could theoretically power the planet for 170,000 years.
That’s according to a recent study, which found that sources of natural hydrogen could be lodged in the Earth’s crust, and, if harnessed properly, could be a solution to our clean energy needs.
Sometimes scientists get lucky, like the accidental discovery of 46 million tons of natural hydrogen in the Moselle region of France, but the formula for tapping into the energy source on an intentional basis has been tough to nail down, until now.
Scientists from three universities (Oxford, Durham and Toronto) believe they have cracked the code - what they are calling an “exploration recipe” - to finding natural hydrogen reservoirs. They believe they are located all over the world, including under at least 30 U.S. states, reports ABC News.
The key geological ingredients include hydrogen itself, reservoir rocks, and a formation that prevents the gas from escaping. But the "exploration recipe" is “likened to cooking a soufflé,” says the study's lead author Chris Ballentine. “Get any one of the ingredients, amounts, timing, or temperature wrong and you will be disappointed.”
But with the clock ticking to find reliable climate solutions, the researchers say we should be getting on with hunting down hidden hydrogen reserves in order to keep the modern world powered cleanly for many millennia. “One successful exploration recipe that is repeatable will unlock a commercially competitive, low-carbon hydrogen source that would significantly contribute to the energy transition,” said Ballentine.
The world has been waiting for the promise of clean energy from nuclear fusion for so long, that all other options should be pursued with equal vigour.
