In the current context of accelerating transformation in the global energy structure, the strategic significance of clean energy is becoming increasingly evident. Hydrogen, as one of the “ultimate energy sources,” is considered an important alternative to traditional fossil fuels due to its clean combustion process, which produces only water. Within the hydrogen energy system, a naturally occurring “white hydrogen” resource from underground is quietly gaining attention. It requires no preparation and emits almost no carbon, making it a highly anticipated new generation of green energy sources in both the scientific and energy communities.
White hydrogen, also known as natural hydrogen or primary hydrogen, is hydrogen gas naturally generated through geological processes deep within the Earth. This hydrogen typically exists in rock fissures, faults, volcanic regions, or areas with frequent geothermal activity, and does not require industrial production methods. Geological research suggests that white hydrogen may form through natural processes such as rock-water reactions, iron ore oxidation, or radioactive decay. This hydrogen may escape to the surface as a free gas or remain trapped in underground voids or between rock layers, awaiting discovery and utilization by humans.
In recent years, countries such as France, the United States, Australia, and Mali have reported the presence of underground white hydrogen. Mali has even achieved small-scale power generation using natural hydrogen, providing electricity to a remote village, making it the “first village powered by white hydrogen.” In the United States, Alabama has also identified significant hydrogen emissions, with geological teams assessing the potential for commercial extraction. Russia and certain regions of Australia have already incorporated natural hydrogen into their energy strategies. In China, regions such as the Sichuan Basin, the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are also believed to have potential white hydrogen resources, with geological teams already conducting preliminary surveys. These discoveries are continuously updating people’s understanding of white hydrogen reserves, with global resources potentially far exceeding initial estimates, possibly forming a massive clean energy reserve.
The advantage of white hydrogen lies in its natural origin, which does not rely on any external energy input, thereby eliminating the need for electrolysis or natural gas reforming and avoiding carbon emissions during the manufacturing process. Its availability is not constrained by the volatility of renewable electricity, theoretically enabling a round-the-clock stable energy supply. Additionally, once white hydrogen becomes economically viable, its cost could even be lower than that of currently mainstream green hydrogen or blue hydrogen, significantly enhancing hydrogen’s accessibility in industrial, transportation, and energy storage applications. Given its widespread distribution across the Earth’s continental crust, its development potential is immense, and its resource independence is strong, potentially reshaping the global energy landscape in the future.
Despite its apparent advantages, the development of white hydrogen still faces significant challenges. First, there is currently a lack of mature geological models and exploration tools to accurately locate white hydrogen reservoirs and precisely estimate their reserves. Hydrogen molecules are extremely small, making them prone to dispersion and difficult to store, which complicates reservoir assessment. Additionally, the formation mechanism of white hydrogen remains unclear, involving complex disciplines such as deep Earth processes and rock reaction kinetics, necessitating further fundamental research. From a policy and legal perspective, natural hydrogen has not yet been explicitly included in the category of mineral resources in many countries, and there are gaps in mineral rights, mining permits, and environmental regulatory standards, with a lack of corresponding commercial frameworks to support its development. The path from discovery to commercialization remains lengthy and complex.
China has begun to show a high level of interest in white hydrogen. Since 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Geological Survey have successively included natural hydrogen in their survey scope, conducting preliminary exploration and monitoring in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan, and other regions. Some energy companies have also expressed investment intentions, believing that white hydrogen could serve as an important supplement to China’s hydrogen energy strategy, aiding in the achievement of the “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals. In terms of policy, experts have already called for natural hydrogen to be included in national energy and mineral development plans, accelerating resource confirmation and the establishment of a standards system. In the future hydrogen market competition, those who can first master the exploration and development technology of white hydrogen may gain the upper hand in the next round of energy transformation.
Overall, white hydrogen is a natural energy treasure that remains in a “dormant state.” If we draw a parallel to humanity’s understanding of oil resources at the beginning of the 20th century, the discovery of white hydrogen today may signal the dawn of another energy era. This gas, which spontaneously emerges from deep within the Earth’s crust, could become the most critical clean foundation for future energy structures. Scientists say that white hydrogen is an unexpected gift from the Earth’s depths and a pending energy revolution awaiting human action. The seemingly dormant land beneath our feet may harbor limitless potential to reshape the global energy landscape.
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