Natural Hydrogen: A Potential New Energy Source in the UK
In recent years, there has been a global interest in the discovery of small amounts of hydrogen gas underground as a potential new source of zero-carbon fuel. However, despite the prospectors’ worldwide search for this valuable resource, the UK has been largely overlooked in this quest.
According to a briefing by the Royal Society, the UK’s geology is not the reason for this oversight. There are rocks in the UK that have the potential to produce hydrogen gas, but the necessary investigations have not been conducted yet. Barbara Sherwood Lollar from the University of Toronto, who led the report on natural hydrogen, emphasizes that the UK has the geological potential for hydrogen production.
The UK government recognizes the importance of hydrogen as a clean energy source, as highlighted in the country’s latest hydrogen strategy. While the strategy focuses on producing hydrogen through low-carbon methods, such as electrolysis, natural hydrogen has not been considered as a potential source. This lack of attention could be attributed to the novelty of natural hydrogen as a concept, with few regulations or understanding surrounding it.
However, there are signs that this may be changing. Companies have started acquiring rights to explore for hydrogen in parts of the UK, particularly in regions like Devon in the south-west. Universities and research institutions are also conducting relevant studies on natural hydrogen. The British Geological Survey is conducting a detailed study on the potential for natural hydrogen in the UK, leveraging the country’s rich history of geological research.
The UK boasts ample reserves of rocks known to generate natural hydrogen, such as iron-rich ultramafic rocks found in regions like the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall and the Shetland Islands in Scotland. Additionally, geological formations in areas like the North Pennines may produce hydrogen through natural processes like radioactivity splitting water molecules.
While the presence of natural hydrogen in the UK is promising, the economic viability of extracting it remains a question. Sherwood Lollar cautions against unrealistic expectations of an endless supply of hydrogen, emphasizing the need for a more balanced understanding of the resource.
Conservative estimates suggest that significant amounts of hydrogen are generated in the Earth’s crust annually, with the potential to contribute to the hydrogen economy. Even capturing a small proportion of this hydrogen could be a valuable addition to the UK’s energy mix.
In conclusion, the exploration of natural hydrogen in the UK holds promise for a sustainable and low-carbon energy future. With ongoing research and investments in this emerging field, the UK could potentially tap into a new source of clean energy that aligns with its climate goals.
