Canadian mine study reveals natural hydrogen flows from ancient rocks

At an active mine near Timmins, Ontario, scientists measured hydrogen coming from billion-year-old rocks, with individual boreholes releasing an average of 0.008 tonnes a year, or about 8 kilograms.

The study says those releases can continue for at least 10 years. Across nearly 15,000 boreholes at the site, the estimated total output is more than 140 tonnes of hydrogen each year.

Researchers from the University of Toronto and the University of Ottawa directly measured hydrogen emerging from rocks in the Canadian Shield and tracked how the gas builds up over time. Their work also mapped where concentrations are highest.

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are described as the clearest evidence yet that these underground formations could become an important source of clean energy. The study introduces a new way to explore for hydrogen resources.

Barbara Sherwood Lollar, a University Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Arts & Science at University of Toronto and the lead author, said: “The data from this study suggests there are critical untapped opportunities to access a domestic source of cost-effective energy produced from the rocks beneath our feet.” She added: “What’s more, this provides a ‘made in Canada’ resource that might be able to support local and regional industry hubs and reduce their dependence on importing hydrocarbon-based fuels.”

The scientists calculate that the mine’s hydrogen output could provide roughly 4.7 million kilowatts of energy annually from a single site, enough to meet the yearly energy needs of more than 400 homes. They say the discovery could help lower greenhouse gas emissions while expanding clean energy production.

Hydrogen already supports a global industry worth approximately $135 billion, and it is used in fertilizer manufacturing, steel production and methanol manufacturing. Most hydrogen now used around the world is produced through industrial processes that rely on petroleum, natural gas and coal.

Those methods consume large amounts of energy and release carbon monoxide and CO2. Hydrogen made with renewable electricity, often called green hydrogen, remains expensive and energy intensive while also requiring transportation and storage infrastructure.

By comparison, natural hydrogen has received relatively little attention. Previous research largely focused on underground microbes and astrobiology rather than energy production, and most estimates of underground hydrogen resources were based on models and theoretical calculations rather than direct measurements from active sites.

“The common link is the rock,” said Oliver Warr, an assistant professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Ottawa and a study co-author. “Natural hydrogen is produced in the same rocks where Canada’s nickel, copper and diamond deposits are found, and that are currently under exploration for critical minerals such as lithium, helium, chromium and cobalt. The co-location of mining resources and hydrogen production and use mitigates the need for long transportation routes to market, for hydrogen storage and major hydrogen infrastructure development.”

According to Sherwood Lollar, natural hydrogen is produced over time through underground chemical reactions between rocks and the groundwaters in those rocks. She said Canada is blessed that vast amounts of its territories, especially on the Canadian Shield, contain the right rocks and minerals to create this natural hydrogen.

The researchers say Canada could potentially supply cleaner and lower-cost hydrogen without depending on hydrocarbons. They also note that similar hydrogen-producing geological formations exist in many other countries, meaning this approach could eventually expand worldwide.

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