Gold (hydrogen) rush: risks and uncertainties in exploring for naturally occurring hydrogen

Interest in hydrogen (H2) energy has exploded the last few years. Much of interest comes from transitioning to a decarbonised future, through use renewables, convert hydrogen-rich materials (methane, water) pure gas streams. Each these methods have their own challenges, such as need for carbon capture and storage manage emissions or perspectives on fresh water. At same time this engineered approach generating hydrogen, there been quiet but exponential upsurge research surrounding origins fate naturally occurring hydrogen. Sometimes referred ‘gold’ ‘white’ geological forms recognised thousands While already present H2, may exist with other gases, methane, helium, sulfide and/or nitrogen. But is it real? Is volumetrically significant, discoverable, predictable exploitable? Early work suggests that we can begin characterise potential sources depth ranges they be generated from, migration mechanisms are relevant, how might retained lost relation discovery exploitation gas. However, existing publicly available data constrained by lack analysis limited evidence. increased reports seeps containing an absence evidence more significant finds major analogues case studies date. We explore risks uncertainties provide roadmap reducing gap.