Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe and the third most abundant element on Earth after oxygen and silicon. As we move to replacing fossil fuels as our main energy source, hydrogen will always be one of the options. Hydrogen itself is not a greenhouse gas, but producing hydrogen can create them.
Over the past few years, green hydrogen emerged as a possible option to produce energy. However, it has proved to be very costly to produce. In 2020, green hydrogen cost between $5 and $6,80/kg. The aim is now to get the cost down to $2 by 2030 to make it economically viable. Blue and Grey Hydrogen are currently cheaper to produce. Blue hydrogen cost $1,40 - $2,40 and grey hydrogen $1 - $1,80. Unfortunately, both are potentially worse for the environment than fossil fuels.
Since the discovery of white hydrogen, scientists have favoured it as the best alternative to fossil fuels in our quest for zero greenhouse gas emissions. White hydrogen could power vehicles, planes, and ships and generate electricity. It requires no refining, so it's cheaper than other alternatives.
What is white hydrogen?
White hydrogen is any hydrogen generated through the passive capture of natural hydrogen from underground sources. This involves extracting (fracking) natural hydrogen out from the Earth's crust via a water-rock reaction. In the process, the water molecules and iron-rich minerals react with each other at a high temperature, releasing hydrogen gas.
Where has white hydrogen been found so far?
Mali
United States of America
Russia
China
Oman
Australia
Eastern Europe
France
Spain
Switzerland
Columbia ...... with the list growing on a daily basis.
Has white hydrogen been found in South Africa?
Recent exploration for white hydrogen in South Africa is still at a very early stage of development. Samples taken in Mpumalanga revealed the natural/white hydrogen category store. The hope is that those stores may at least be able to generate electricity for a Mpumalanga village.
Why are so many colourful descriptions used when referring to hydrogen?
It all comes down to how hydrogen is produced. Creating it can be carbon intensive, so various ways to lessen this impact have been developed. Scientists assign colours to the different types of hydrogen to distinguish between them based on how they are produced.
The Hydrogen colour spectrum
Green Hydrogen | Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water using electricity from renewable resources like hydropower, solar, and wind. This process produces zero CO2 emissions. |
Pink/Purple/Red Hydrogen | Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using nuclear power. |
Yellow Hydrogen | Hydrogen is produced by electrolysis using grid electricity from variable sources (i.e., renewables and fossil fuels). |
White Hydrogen | Occurs naturally underground. Geological hydrogen is found in naturally occurring underground deposits and extracted by fracking. |
Turquoise Hydrogen | Hydrogen is produced by the thermal splitting of methane (methane pyrolysis). Instead of CO2, solid carbon is produced. |
Black/Grey Hydrogen | Hydrogen is extracted from natural gas using steam-methane reforming, the most common form of hydrogen production worldwide. However, greenhouse gases are released during extraction. |
Blue Hydrogen | It is similar to grey or brown hydrogen, with its CO2 sequestered or repurposed. Natural gas is mixed with hot steam and a catalyst. |
Brown Hydrogen | Hydrogen is extracted from fossil fuels like coal using gasification. Generates carbon dioxide emissions. |
White Hydrogen Timeline (selected dates)
23rd February 1765, Henry Cavendish, a British-French physicist and chemist, discovers hydrogen.
August 1936, The Hindenburg airship was visible over the Olympic Stadium in Berlin during the 1936 Olympic Games. Although it was meant to be fueled by helium, the Germans had to use hydrogen because the American government refused to allow the sale of helium to Hitler's Germany.
6th May 1937, The Hindenburg airship, while completing an Atlantic Ocean crossing from Frankfurt (Germany) to New Jersey (USA), burst into flames as it was about to land. In a minute, it was reduced to its metal frame as flames ripped through the structure; 35 of the 97 people on board died while the survivors were severely burnt. The cause of the disaster was undetermined, but it was highly likely caused by a leaking hydrogen gas cell.
1st November 1952, the first hydrogen bomb was detonated on Enewetak Atoll, located in the northwest corner of the Marshall Islands. The explosion achieved a yield of around 10.4 magnitude. This was 500 times more powerful than the Nagasaki bomb.
1966, General Motors built the first hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle, named the Electrovan. The vehicle generated its power from super-cooled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to generate its power.
1987, white hydrogen was found in Bourakébougou, Mali, for the first time. A team that engaged in drilling wells came to the village to drill for water. After not finding water, they had given up for the day, with the well dry at a depth of 108 meters. One of the drilling crew had bent over the well with a cigarette in his mouth. An explosion occurred; luckily, the crew member survived with burns. At the time, the cause of the explosion remained unknown. The fire in the well continued for many days.
2012, a team finally investigated the site of the explosion in Bourakébougou, Mali and determined that the well was producing gas consisting of 98% hydrogen. So far, this element has hardly ever been noted during the extraction of other raw materials. White hydrogen was found and later identified.
July 2023, researchers from France's National Centre of Scientific Research found white hydrogen in Lorraine in the northeast of France. Geologists were searching for methane at the time of the discovery, which could potentially contain 250 million tons of hydrogen.
2035 Airbus have set a target to produce a hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2035.
The advantages and disadvantages of white hydrogen as a feasible energy source.
Advantages | Disadvantages |
Could be used for heating, transport and manufacturing. | Hydrogen used in the fuel cells is a very flammable gas and can cause fires and explosions if it is not handled correctly. |
Affordable and cheaper than most alternatives. | It is still in the early stages of research, and a lot of questions need to be answered. |
Is a renewable energy resource that does not harm the environment. (No CO2's) | Technology still has to be developed to extract and exploit it successfully. |
Burning it only emits heat and water and limits climate change. | Operating costs and environmental issues remain to be assessed as projects develop. |
It is potentially an abundant source of energy. | |
White hydrogen is continually renewed, unlike fossil fuels. | The lack of pipelines and distribution systems for hydrogen. |
White hydrogen is a viable option in sectors where electrification is not feasible. | Hydrogen requires a temperature of -253°C to be liquified, which could be expensive. |
No water or electricity is required for the white hydrogen production process. | Hydrogen can corrode metal pipes and cause leaks. |
Summary
With most scientists using terms like could, might and potential when referring to white hydrogen, it is clearly too early to tell whether it will soon replace fossil fuels. As far as heating alternatives go, white hydrogen could well be the answer, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, where countries no longer make use of Russian natural gas. Most ships' engines could be easily converted to white hydrogen but would require bigger fuel tanks or additional stops to refuel. With regards to motor vehicles, it appears that white hydrogen is at least 10 years behind electric car technology. Electric motor vehicle companies are more likely to choose between lithium-ion, sodium-ion and cobalt-based batteries to make their vehicles compete better against their competitors. Only time will tell whether white hydrogen has a future as a viable form of energy in our lifetime.
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