Hydrogen
Natural hydrogen: a low-carbon resource for the energy transition
45-8 ENERGY: pioneer in the exploration of native hydrogen
Natural hydrogen, also known as native, white, or geological hydrogen, is a resource produced naturally in the subsurface, without human intervention or CO₂ emissions. This renewable energy source offers a complementary alternative to current low-carbon hydrogen production methods.
In certain geological contexts, natural hydrogen is associated with helium. It is therefore straightforward for 45-8 ENERGY to take an interest in this naturally carbon-free resource and to co-valorize it.
Our mission: to offer an eco-friendly alternative for our energy transition
Long considered a geological curiosity, natural hydrogen is slowly gaining recognition and the hypotheses surrounding this gas are being confirmed. At 45-8 ENERGY, we have been convinced since our founding in 2017 that natural hydrogen exists and has great potential. Our exploration activities and extensive field analyses enable us to refine our understanding of natural hydrogen: its form, accumulation, and migration pathways.
At 45-8 ENERGY, we are interested in two types of low-carbon hydrogen:
Native hydrogen
Native hydrogen is produced naturally in the subsurface. Its formation requires no critical materials, no anthropogenic energy, and has no impact on available water resources.
At 45-8 ENERGY, we believe that natural hydrogen is a complementary solution to other low-carbon hydrogen production processes.
To date, we have identified several areas with high potential in France, Europe and United States.
Local and low-carbon hydrogen
In certain geological contexts, helium and natural hydrogen we explore may sometimes be associated with a fraction of methane. In such cases, 45-8 ENERGY considers this fraction as an opportunity for innovation and plans to produce low-carbon, locally sourced hydrogen using several technological approaches:
- through steam reforming with recovery and/or sequestration of the carbon dioxide emitted in the process (mineralization or reinjection into its original reservoir underground);
- through pyrolysis/plasmolysis, enabling the production of hydrogen and carbon black.
Native hydrogen: a promising sector in which 45-8 ENERGY is investing
The earth₂ initiative, originally created by 45-8 ENERGY and CVA Group, is now led by the AVENIA cluster. It aims to bring together stakeholders in the field of subsurface hydrogen and to promote understanding of the “natural hydrogen system.”
45-8 ENERGY is the first natural hydrogen exploration and production company to join the Alliance!
The European Clean Hydrogen Alliance aims to deploy low-carbon hydrogen by 2030.
45-8 ENERGY is a member of France Hydrogène, which aims to accelerate the development of hydrogen solutions to support the energy transition.
45-8 ENERGY was one of the first winners of the H40 index of the Hydrogen Task Force, created by MEDEF International and France Hydrogène.
More about hydrogen
Where hydrogen is used?
- All
- Hydrogen as chemical compound
- Hydrogen as an energy vector
- Hydrogen as fuel
The characteristics of hydrogen
Abundant
Abundant
Hydrogen is the most widespread element in the universe, main compound of the sun and most of the stars.
Natural
Natural
Its pure form, di-hydrogen, is being created naturally by chemical reactions in the subsurface.
Rarely alone
Rarely alone
Hydrogen is mostly associated with other elements to form molecules (water, methane, starch, sugar, alcohol, etc.)
Lightweight
Lightweight
Hydrogen is the smallest and lightest element (14 times lighter than air).
Energy-producing
Produce energy
Natural hydrogen contains three times more energy than gasoline and emits only water.
Non-toxic and odourless
Non-toxic and odourless
In its pure form, di-hydrogen is invisible, odourless and non-toxic.
Abundant
Hydrogen is the most widespread element in the universe, main compound of the sun and most of the stars.
Natural
Its pure form, di-hydrogen, is being created naturally by chemical reactions in the subsurface.
Rarely alone
Hydrogen is mostly associated with other elements to form molecules (water, methane, starch, sugar, alcohol, etc.)
Lightweight
Hydrogen is the smallest and lightest element (14 times lighter than air).
Energy-producing
Natural hydrogen contains three times more energy than gasoline and emits only water.
Non-toxic and odourless
In its pure form, di-hydrogen is invisible, odourless and non-toxic.
Hydrogen production modes
Hydrogen in figures
Share of low-carbon hydrogen produced in the hydrogen mix
Share of low-carbon hydrogen produced in France by 2030
CO₂ emissions for the production of 1 ton of hydrogen by steam reforming of methane
Annual hydrogen consumption in France
Frequently Asked Questions about natural hydrogen
Today, around 95% of the world’s hydrogen is produced from natural gas, via a process called steam reforming, which involves “breaking down” the methane molecule (CH₄) to recover the hydrogen. This process emits a lot of CO₂.
5% of hydrogen production is low-carbon, meaning it is produced using cleaner energy sources (water electrolysis or renewable electricity). As part of France 2030, France has set itself the goal of achieving more than 50% of its production in a low-carbon manner. Natural hydrogen could then become a complementary solution that would enable the targets to be met.
Natural hydrogen is produced naturally in the subsurface without human intervention, while green hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable sources. Both types of hydrogen are considered low-carbon, but natural hydrogen could offer lower production costs, an even smaller environmental footprint, and avoidance of production intermittency.
The main challenges include:
– Identification of deposits: locating exploitable accumulations of natural hydrogen requires extensive geological research.
– Infrastructure: the development of the infrastructure needed to extract, store, and transport hydrogen is still in the development phase.
– Regulation: the regulatory framework for the extraction of natural hydrogen is still being developed in many countries.
Studies suggest that natural hydrogen could be produced at competitive costs, potentially lower than those of green or gray hydrogen. However, economic viability will depend on the size of the deposits, extraction costs, and available infrastructure.
45-8 ENERGY is a key player in the exploration and production of natural hydrogen in Europe. The company is carrying out exploration projects in France and the Balkans, aiming to identify and unlock natural hydrogen potential to provide a local, sustainable and low-carbon energy source. Projects in partnership with H2Au are ongoing in the US to better understand the behavior of natural hydrogen and its formation in the subsurface.
