White Hydrogen: The Next Step Towards a Carbon-Free Future

Abstract

As the global demand for renewable energy grows, white hydrogen, also known as natural/geologic hydrogen, has become a promising sustainable alternative to fossil fuels due to the fact that the hydrogen is produced naturally in the earth’s crust and does not emit any CO2. 

When used, white hydrogen offers a pollution-free energy source. This paper shows the latest advancements in white hydrogen technology, including new breakthroughs in geological mapping, modeling storage, transportation, and extraction methods. 

Recent studies have produced advanced models that predict where the hydrogen is located underground, and new drilling techniques to acquire CO2 more efficiently. 

This paper also examines the advantages of white hydrogen such as its high energy content, low production costs and its strengthening of energy security. Despite these advantages, multiple challenges like limited infrastructure and high storage costs still limit its large-scale use. 

With continued progress in technology, white hydrogen can soon become a key part in making the world a cleaner place. 

Introduction 

As the demand around the world increases for clean and renewable energy, engineers and scientists have started focusing on white hydrogen, also known as natural or geologic hydrogen. 

White hydrogen, unlike other forms of hydrogen which is made through carbon intensive industrial processes, white hydrogen occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. 

Due to the fact it is formed through natural reactions, and it does not release carbon dioxide in its use, it can serve as a pollution free fuel. 

The main natural reaction that forms the hydrogen is serpentinization, which is when water reacts with the rocks, which leads to the iron in the rocks getting oxidized and the hydrogen getting released. 

Some of the current uses of white hydrogen include clean energy production, transportational fuel, and industrial applications. Some examples of this are hydrogen cars like the Toyota Mirai, and the Hyundai Nexo which do not release any Carbon Dioxide, and in villages like Mali, white hydrogen is used to power local villages. 

In recent years, there have been multiple advancements to white hydrogen like geological mapping, extraction methods and many more to increase the use of white hydrogen. 

These advancements have made discovering and using white hydrogen easier than it has ever been before. 

This paper will go over the latest advancements in white hydrogen, the current status of white hydrogen technology, the advantages and challenges using white hydrogen has, and comparing it with other forms of hydrogen to determine how viable its potential in sustainable energy is.

Current Status of White Hydrogen Technology 

The development of white hydrogen technology is still in the early stages of development and commercialization. 

According to Royal Society, multiple countries like Canada, Australia, US, and some other European countries have exploration sites, but only one site in Mali actually has commercial scale hydrogen production [1]. 

Mali is the only country that allows this because it has a uniquely large, high purity, naturally flowing hydrogen reservoir that other countries do not have yet since they need to drill deeper into the earth than Mali does [1]. 

For other countries to have this, they still must find hydrogen reservoirs that are high-purity and naturally replenishing like Mali has. 

Another article by Grist notes that only about 40 countries worldwide have drilling programs for white hydrogen in regions like the U.S. Mid-continent rift and Australia, with the U.S. and Australia leading the way [2]. 

All these advancements are shown in the predictions of the white hydrogen market size in the future, as it continues to increase by about 7.7% dollars a year, according to Figure 1. 

Figure 1: Prediction of white hydrogen market size through the years [3].

The increase of 7.7% per year shows that white hydrogen is gaining more popularity, but even with all the advancements there are still too many uncertainties like resource size, extraction cost, and regulatory requirements which keep white hydrogen from commercializing.

Advancements in White Hydrogen Technology 

In recent years, scientists and engineers have made significant improvements in how we can find and produce white hydrogen. 

Once thought to be extremely rare and hard to reach, white hydrogen has now become an extremely popular possible source of clean and renewable energy thanks to all the recent advancements. 

One major advancement lies in the modeling and mapping of white hydrogen. Mapping and modeling of white hydrogen is used to find where the white hydrogen occurs underground and to simulate how it forms and where it moves. 

A 2024 study by Geoffrey Ellis and Sarah Gelman, introduces a new mass-balance model that maps and predicts where the hydrogen exists underground [4]. 
 

Figure 2: Mass-Balance model by Ellis and Gelman [4].

Figure 2, as depicted from the Ellis and Gelman study, shows the mass-balance model and illustrates the global distribution of the predicted hydrogen sources, and how and where the hydrogen moves throughout different layers in the earth [4]. 

The mass-balance model estimates where and how much hydrogen exists underground by calculating the rate of hydrogen generation, how much is retained, and how much is lost over a geological time [4]. 

For example, the model predicts that the earth holds between 103 and 106 million metric tons of hydrogen [4]. This research provides the first global framework to estimate and visualize the possible amount of natural hydrogen resources to create white hydrogen. 

Another major advancement in mapping is the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) 2024 study, which created the first nationwide prospectivity map which shows where hydrogen is most likely to be found in the United States [5]. 

They were able to find out this by using over 21 types of geological data, like maps of rock types and lithology, known hydrogen occurrences, geophysical data, geological mapping of porous reservoir rocks, and many other types to find areas with the right conditions for hydrogen generation, sealing and storage [5]. 

The USGS map showed the high potential regions for hydrogen were in the regions of Kansas, Nebraska, and Central California [5].  

What is so special about these areas is that they have the perfect combination of ancient rock formations, faults, and closed sedimentary layers that allow it for the natural hydrogen to form and be trapped underground where you can drill for it [5].

Another major advancement in white hydrogen technology is with continued improvements in exploration and extraction techniques. A 2023 study led by Aimikhe and Eyankware, highlights new extraction methods and techniques for white hydrogen. 

One example is this study discussing the stimulated geologic hydrogen production, which uses heat, chemical reactions or pressure to trigger hydrogen release, which greatly increases extraction efficiency [6]. 

One example of this method is injecting CO2 enriched water into the iron-rich rocks, which stimulates hydrogen release and improves hydrogen extraction efficiency [6]. 

When you inject CO2 enriched water, it speeds up the hydrogen production by breaking down the iron rich minerals faster and making the iron in the rock oxidize faster, which releases hydrogen as the byproduct [6]. 

Some other major advancements include advancements in transportation and storage. A 2024 Study by Zongo highlights multiple new progresses in hydrogen storage and transportation [7]. 

Scientists have improved storage systems by creating stronger and better high-pressure tanks, liquid hydrogen systems, and safer solid materials that allow hydrogen to be stored safer and transferred safer [7]. 

For transportation, some major advancements in the last 3 years have been new pipeline systems, hydrogen powered ships, and liquid hydrogen trucks that make it much easier and safer to move hydrogen over long distances [7]. 

There is a need for hydrogen to be stored safer and stronger because hydrogen is very flammable, light, and leaks a lot easier than other fuels because of the small molecules [7]. All these advancements in the technology for white hydrogen are making white hydrogen a very strong case for becoming a popular energy source.

Advantages of White Hydrogen 

One of the main reasons that scientists are interested in white hydrogen technology is because of the advantages that white hydrogen offers as a clean and sustainable energy source. 

The main advantage of white hydrogen is that white hydrogen is carbon-free, so it is great for the environment compared to other energy sources as it does not emit CO2 or other greenhouse gases when it is used or produced [3]. 

Also, since hydrogen is a self-replenishing resource, it could act as a renewable resource for thousands of years without worrying about it running out like you do for fossil fuels [4]. 

Another advantage is that because it is found naturally in many places around the world, it helps improve energy security as it helps reduce the competition for imported fossil fuel [3]. 

Another advantage is that white hydrogen has a low production cost. According to the Oxford Institute for energy studies, stimulated white hydrogen production produces hydrogen for less than $1 dollar per kilogram [8]. 

By comparison, green hydrogen costs around $3.50 to $10 dollars per kilogram to produce [8]. Unlike green hydrogen, white hydrogen does not need electricity or purified water to be produced, making it easier to produce and reduce environmental strain [8]. 

Also, due to the fact that white hydrogen can be engineered, it can lead to a more controllable and predictable hydrogen supply which improves the viability of it becoming a consistent energy source [8]. 

Figure 3: Comparing the energy content of white hydrogen to other fuels

Another advantage of white hydrogen is that it has the highest energy content of any fuel. As shown in Figure 3, white hydrogens 120 MJ/kg energy content is more than two times that of any of the other fuels, with methane having the second highest at 55 MJ/kg [7]. 

This means that you need a smaller amount of hydrogen to produce the same amount of energy as the other fossil fuels, making it more efficient for transportation [7]. Lastly, white hydrogen can greatly improve energy security and supply. 

White hydrogen can strengthen countries’ energy supply because it is a domestic and naturally renewable resource [9]. This means that it can prevent dependence on fossil fuels, and if there is any disruption in the supply chain of fossil fuels, countries will have a solution to the problem until they can fix it.

Disadvantages of White Hydrogen

Despite how many advantages white hydrogen has, it still has multiple disadvantages. One disadvantage of white hydrogen is that although it may be cheap to produce, it will be expensive in order to transport it and keep it in supply [10]. 

This is because white hydrogen must be liquified at -253℃, which makes it extremely expensive to transport white hydrogen and to store it because of how cold it must remain [10]. 

Also, when white hydrogen is liquefied to -253 ℃, about 30-40% of its total energy is used in the cooling process [7]. Hydrogen also has a low volumetric energy density, which means it must be stored under high pressures compared to other energy sources like gasoline which do not need to be [7]. 

Another disadvantage is that white hydrogen molecules are much smaller than fossil fuels, which means that white hydrogen is way more likely to leak through the pipes and cause safety problems or damage to the materials [10]. 

Since hydrogen is very flammable, the leaks can cause explosions which [10].  Due to the fact of how much smaller white hydrogen is, there are only close to 5,000 km of hydrogen pipelines worldwide compared to the 3 million km for natural gasses [7]. 

Another main challenge to white hydrogen is the difficulty of producing and extracting hydrogen efficiently. 

One of the main challenges is that due to how known white hydrogen is, there are still many problems in how to find the best site to get the hydrogen, maintain stable hydrogen flow, and manage all the risks in extracting the hydrogen [8]. 

This is because many of the areas with a lot of hydrogen are so deep underground or in remote areas making monitoring and drilling expensive and difficult to do [8]. Despite all the potential that white hydrogen has, the challenge is why white hydrogen production is still in its beginning stages.

Conclusion 

White hydrogen has quickly become one of the most exciting sources of clean energy. Due to all the advancements in white hydrogen technology like mapping, extraction, and storage,engineers can produce and locate it easier than ever before. 

The advantages of white hydrogen like how environmentally friendly it is for the environment, and the low production costs make it a highly attractive renewable energy option. 

However, all the challenges like high storage costs and limited amounts of infrastructure are what holds hydrogen back from large-scale production. 

With continued advancements and developments in white hydrogen technology, white hydrogen has a big potential to become a part of the world’s transfer to clean energy.

About the Authors 

Dr. Raj Shah is a Director at Koehler Instrument Company in New York, where he has worked for the last 25 plus years. 

He is an elected Fellow by his peers at ASTM, IChemE, ASTM,AOCS, CMI, STLE,  AIC, NLGI, INSTMC, Institute of Physics, The Energy Institute and The Royal Society of Chemistry. 

An ASTM Eagle award recipient, Dr.  Shah recently coedited the bestseller, “Fuels and Lubricants handbook”, details of which are available at ASTM’s Long-awaited Fuels and Lubricants Handbook https://bit.ly/3u2e6GY. 

He earned his doctorate in Chemical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and is a Fellow from The Chartered Management Institute, London. 

Dr. Shah is also a Chartered Scientist with the Science Council, a Chartered Petroleum Engineer with the Energy Institute and a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering council, UK. 

Dr. Shah was recently granted the honorific of “Eminent engineer” with Tau beta Pi, the largest engineering society in the USA. 

He is on the Advisory board of directors at Farmingdale university (Mechanical Technology), Auburn Univ (Tribology), SUNY, Farmingdale, (Engineering Management) and State university of NY, Stony Brook (Chemical engineering/ Material Science and engineering). 

An Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York, Stony Brook, in the Department of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Raj also has over 700 publications and has been active in the energy industry for over 3 decades.

Petrit Sheshori is an undergraduate student of engineering at Stony Brook University. He is also a member of a thriving petroleum research internship at Koehler Instrument Company where he regularly contributes to the petroleum and energy research industry.

Gavin Thomas is part of a thriving internship program at Koehler Instrument Company in Holtsville, and just graduated with a degree in Chemical and Molecular Engineering from Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York. 

He also works as a process engineer at Mill-Max in Oyster Bay, NY where he becomes hands-on with various production processes to ultimately improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. 

Reference Page 

[1] “Natural Hydrogen: Future Energy and Resources .” Royal Society, June 2025, royalsociety.org/-/media/policy/projects/natural-hydrogen/natural-hydrogen-policy-briefing.pdf. 

[2] McCarthy, Rebecca Egan. “A Hidden Fuel Source beneath the Midwest? Scientists Are Investigating.” Grist, 13 Aug. 2025, grist.org/energy/natural-hydrogen-midcontinent-rift/. 

[3] Gaucher, Eric Gaucher, et al. “The Place of Natural Hydrogen in the Energy Transition: A Position Paper.” Eurogeologists, 2023, eurogeologists.eu/gaucher-the-place-of-natural-hydrogen-in-the-energy-transition-a-position-pap er/ 

[4] Ellis, Geoffrey, and Sarah Gelman. “Model Predictions of Global Geologic Hydrogen Resources.” ScienceAdvances, 13 Dec. 2024, www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.1126/sciadv.ado0955. 

[5] Gelman, Sarah E., et al. “Prospectivity Mapping for Geologic Hydrogen.” USGS, 16 Jan. 2025, pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp1900/full. 

[6] Aimikhe, Victor Joseph, and Oghenegare Emmanuel Eyankware. “Recent Advances in White Hydrogen Exploration and Production: A Mini Review.” Journal of Energy Research and Reviews, 2 Apr. 2023, journaljenrr.com/index.php/JENRR. 

[7] Xie, Zongao, et al. “A Review of Hydrogen Storage and Transportation: Progresses and Challenges.” MDPI, Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 16 Aug. 2024, www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/4070.

[8] “Stimulated Geologic Hydrogen Production: State of Play, Challenges, and Key Questions to Ask.” The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, Sept. 2025, www.oxfordenergy.org/wpcms/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Insight-169-Stimulated-Geologic-H ydrogen-Production.pdf? 

[9] “Exploring Geologic Hydrogen: A New Frontier for Affordable, Reliable Energy Security.” Energy, energy.sandia.gov/programs/fossil-energy/subsurface-storage/geologic-hydrogen-capabilities/geo logic-hydrogen/. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025. 

[10] Symons, Angela. “What Is ‘white Hydrogen’ and Could It Be a Fuel of the Future?” Euronews, 2 Nov. 2023, www.euronews.com/green/2023/11/05/what-is-white-hydrogen-the-pros-and-cons-of-europes-lat est-clean-energy-source.