Subscribe now

Environment

Are vast amounts of hydrogen fuel hidden below Earth's surface?

Geologists estimate Earth contains several trillion tonnes of natural hydrogen that could be used as a clean fuel, but a global search for large reserves hasn’t delivered so far

By James Dinneen

13 December 2024

Drill rig in Nebraska run by Natural Hydrogen Energy LLC, which established its first hydrogen borehole in 2019

Viacheslav Zgonnik

For the past few years, companies and prospectors around the world have been hunting for underground reserves of natural hydrogen, spurred by estimates that Earth contains trillions of tonnes of the gas. If found, this geologic hydrogen could accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. But despite a few tantalising hints that vast reserves exist, the search has largely come up short.

Until recently, most geologists…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers