The UK-listed exploration company ran an independent study at the Montana Helium Fairway site. The results confirmed it contained minerals that generate hydrogen naturally when they interact with water under the Earth’s heat and pressure.
The minerals, such as serpentine, olivine, and magnetite, are found in specific rock types called mafic and ultramafic rocks.
Isotope analysis also revealed a helium signature at the site.
The company believes the site has the potential to produce ultra-clean hydrogen more cheaply than conventional methods, if scaled successfully.
“The science is clear: this is the type of system that can generate clean hydrogen naturally, without carbon emissions or expensive reforming plants,” explained Helix CEO, Bo Sears.
“If developed successfully, it could deliver hydrogen at a cost and purity level that could surpass anything achieved through conventional means.”
However, experts have cautioned that the commercial viability of natural hydrogen remains unproven at scale.
For example, much of the hydrogen in the Earth’s crust may be too deep, too dispersed, or difficult to extract economically.
Scepticism has also been expressed by major hydrogen producers, such as Air Products, who regard natural hydrogen as a speculative prospect rather than a ready alternative to established green or blue methods.
Analysis: Is natural hydrogen the next breakthrough or bust?
The next gold rush, a game-changer for decarbonisation and an underestimated resource: all terms used to describe natural hydrogen, which has grabbed an ever increasing number of headlines in recent months.
Formed by natural processes inside the Earth’s crust through processes such as serpentinisation and iron oxidation, natural hydrogen can accumulate in underground reservoirs. It has been coined as the climate solution under our feet and is capturing the minds of investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers alike, often touted as a low-cost, low-impact energy source.
While fossil fuel-based grey hydrogen costs less than $2/kg on average, many anticipate natural hydrogen costs, depending on deposit purity and depth, to be around $1/kg1.
Since 2021 a growing number of new natural hydrogen exploration ventures have been set up, but it has only been in recent months the natural energy carrier has received serious attention. Current exploration efforts are being undertaken in Australia, US, Spain, France, Albania, Colombia, South Korea and Canada.
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