France's quest for '250-million-tons' of clean hydrogen riches - Interesting Engineering

France quest for 250-million-tons of clean hydrogen mission
France's quest for ‘250-million-tons’ of clean hydrogen richesHuge deposit of white hydrogen could help fight climate change.Sejal SharmaPublished: Oct 30, 2023 10:42 AM ESTinnovationRepresentative imageaudioundwerbung/iStock Get a daily digest of the latest news in tech, science, and technology, delivered right to your mailbox. Subscribe now.By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Policies You may unsubscribe at any time.Two scientists were looking for fossil fuels in France’s Lorraine mining basin when they accidentally discovered something else, reported CNN.Underneath the ground in north-eastern France is a repository of white hydrogen or naturally occurring hydrogen. Also known as green hydrogen, it is produced using renewable or low-carbon energy sources, unlike ‘gray hydrogen,’ which is produced from natural gas with carbon emissions as a byproduct. White hydrogen has gained attention as a potential clean energy carrier for a variety of applications, including fuel cells for transportation, energy storage, and industrial processes. Its production is seen as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change while promoting a sustainable energy economy. See Also Related World first 100% hydrogen gas turbine tested in France Airbus' vision for zero maritime emissions starts with hydrogen engine This MIT system can harness solar energy to produce green hydrogen Up to 250 million metric tons of green hydrogenThe scientists estimated that the deposit could contain between 6 and 250 million metric tons of green hydrogen. Earlier reports estimated 46 million tons, but the CNN report claims the riches could be up to 250 million tons.Currently, the commercial variants of hydrogen, such as gray and blue hydrogen, are produced in an energy-intensive process almost entirely powered by fossil fuels.Blue hydrogen, similar to gray hydrogen, is produced from natural gas using a process called steam reforming, which brings together natural gas and heated water in the form of steam. Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of the process.This is a significant development because until now, most white hydrogen discoveries have been made by accident by geologists on the hunt for fossil fuels, wrote Jacques Pironon and Philippe Di Donato, the two scientists who discovered the world’s biggest hydrogen deposit. They are both directors of the National Center of Scientific Research in France.Scientists to drill down to 9,842 feet They were able to discover the hydrogen deposits using a SysMoG probe, which allowed them to analyze the gas dissolved in water in rock formations up to 1200 meters in a world first. The concentration of hydrogen grew as their probe descended the deposit area. It reached 20% at 1250 meters down, which led them to suggest that at 9,842 feet (3,000 meters) below the ground, hydrogen content could exceed 90%.White hydrogen is “very promising,” said Isabelle Moretti, a scientific researcher at the University of Pau et des Pays de l’Adour and the University of Sorbonne and a white hydrogen expert. “Now the question is no longer about the resource… but where to find large economic reserves.”The researchers now plan to drill down to 9,842 feet (3,000 meters) to get a clearer idea of exactly how much white hydrogen there is."We propose a deep excavation (to 3,000 metres down) to demonstrate that the concentration of hydrogen does indeed grow as you descend. If this is the case, we will confirm the presence of an exceptional deposit of naturally occurring hydrogen, bigger than any discovered elsewhere, and we can make a first realistic estimate of its scale," wrote the researchers.France already has two other potential hydrogen reserves. With the discovery of the Lorraine deposit, scientists estimate that the country could produce three million tonnes of clean gas a year. HomeInnovationAdd Interesting Engineering to your Google News feed.Add Interesting Engineering to your Google News feed.SHOW COMMENT (1) For You A key trait makes humans different from other animalsNASA's X-ray telescopes expose the 'bones' of a haunting cosmic handIs carbon capture the missing piece in the net zero puzzle?New species of ancient aquatic lizard unearthed in North DakotaThe real impact of blue light on eye health and sleepChina warns a 'certain country' is making ethnic bioweaponsThe J.Laverack Aston Martin .1R is redefining cycling excellenceChina's eVTOL firm unveils "Land Aircraft Carrier" modular flying vanThe hidden influence of chaos theory in our livesAstronauts use circadian lightning, and so can you Job Board