The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the US, the high-risk, high-reward arm of the Department of Energy (DOE), has announced a groundbreaking $20 million investment to propel research into technologies for extracting clean-burning hydrogen from deep rocks. This marks the first major U.S. government investment in a relatively unconventional concept for clean and sustainable energy sources.
The ARPA-E funding, considered the largest single investment in research and development (R&D) of this nature globally, is expected to accelerate investigations into extracting hydrogen from vast deposits believed to exist deep within the Earth’s crust. While the prevailing notion is that all the world’s hydrogen is industrially manufactured, some researchers propose that Earth conceals extensive hydrogen reservoirs accessible through methods akin to oil extraction.
Hydrogen, despite being less energy-rich than natural gas and requiring substantial storage space, is seen as a potential substitute for fossil fuels in long-haul transport and energy-intensive industries such as steelmaking if sourced in an environmentally friendly manner. The majority of hydrogen today is produced through processes that emit carbon dioxide (CO2), contributing to global warming. Governments worldwide are investing in cleaner hydrogen production methods, such as capturing and storing emitted CO2 (blue hydrogen) or utilizing renewable electricity to split water, yielding hydrogen (green hydrogen).
The focus of the ARPA-E funding is on exploring the potential of “geological” or “natural” hydrogen, positing it as a potentially cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. While geological hydrogen deposits were historically dismissed due to microbial consumption and chemical alterations, recent discoveries and anomalies in hydrogen-rich fields have sparked renewed interest.
Rather than supporting the search for existing deposits, the ARPA-E grant program aims to investigate ways to artificially stimulate hydrogen production, specifically focusing on the serpentinization process. This process occurs when water interacts with iron-rich rocks at high temperatures and pressures, releasing hydrogen. The program seeks to enhance the speed of hydrogen production through techniques like pumping water or catalysts into the source rocks.
Research efforts are expected to involve modeling and lab-based studies to optimize production. Additionally, a portion of the funding will support research into monitoring reactions and assessing the potential risks associated with injecting substances into the Earth’s crust.
This investment by ARPA-E, along with the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) involvement, is seen as a crucial boost to a field that is rapidly gaining attention. Industry experts believe this marks a tipping point, with major oil companies tentatively entering the arena after years of overlooking geological hydrogen extraction. The combination of government and private investments adds credibility to the potential of hydrogen extracted from deep rocks as a significant future energy source. The once-skeptical ARPA-E Program Director, Doug Wicks, now firmly believes in the promise of geological hydrogen, recognizing it as a potential game-changer in the global energy landscape.
The newfound interest in geological hydrogen extraction is not limited to government initiatives. In July, the startup Koloma emerged from stealth mode with an impressive $91 million in venture capital, backed by investors including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The venture indicates growing confidence and financial support for exploring this unconventional avenue of clean energy.
Researchers in the field are also diversifying their approaches. Alexis Templeton, a geochemist at the University of Colorado Boulder, recently secured a grant from the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. Her research aims to explore ways to stimulate hydrogen production at lower temperatures and pressures, potentially making it feasible to extract hydrogen from iron-rich deposits near the surface, as found in locations like Oman.
Major oil companies, once hesitant to explore geological hydrogen extraction, are now cautiously entering the domain. This shift is evident as the U.S. Geological Survey and the Colorado School of Mines launch a multi-million-dollar research consortium, backed by industry heavyweights including BP and Chevron, over a five-year period.
Doug Wicks, ARPA-E Program Director, acknowledges that these investments by ARPA-E and the USGS are adding a critical level of credibility to the fast-growing field. Initial skepticism has given way to a firm belief that geological hydrogen extraction will play a substantial role as an energy source in the future.
As the world continues to seek sustainable alternatives to conventional energy sources, this injection of funding and interest into geological hydrogen extraction could mark a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for clean and renewable energy solutions. The convergence of government, private sector, and research community efforts signals a collective commitment to exploring unconventional pathways that may hold the key to a more sustainable energy future.
Wishing you the best,
Plantie.org
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This post was previously published on medium.com.
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From The Good Men Project on Medium
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