What are the distinctive advantages of white hydrogen?
How does white hydrogen compare to green, blue, and gray hydrogen? Analysis of unique advantages: reduced emissions, low water consumption, and minimal land footprint.
Global demand for hydrogen is expected to double by 2030, rising from approximately 94 to 180 million tons. [1] Today, the vast majority of this production still comes from the reforming of fossil fuels, while only a small fraction is derived from electrolysis powered by low-carbon sources.[1] These processes require heavy industrial infrastructure and, in the case of electrolysis, significant volumes of high-purity water as well as abundant electricity.
In this context, white hydrogen – or natural hydrogen – is emerging as a promising alternative. This article examines three major advantages of this geological resource: its low surface disturbance, its limited water requirements, and its status as a directly exploitable primary energy source.
White hydrogen: a primary energy extracted from the Earth
Unlike other forms of hydrogen that require costly energy transformation, white hydrogen is directly extracted from natural reservoirs located in the Earth's crust. This distinction changes the environmental equation: the "chemical reaction" that produces hydrogen no longer takes place in an electrolyzer or reformer, but in the subsurface itself.
White hydrogen is formed primarily by serpentinization, a geochemical process that occurs when water reacts with ultramafic rocks rich in iron and magnesium, generating molecular hydrogen over time [1] This natural process, powered by the Earth's geothermal energy, can create hydrogen accumulations trapped beneath impermeable layers – similar to hydrocarbon reservoirs. [1]
The Bourakébougou deposit in Mali, exploited since 2011, is an emblematic example: it continuously powers the village with energy thanks to locally produced natural hydrogen. [1]
Advantage #1: Minimal surface disturbance
One of the often underestimated challenges of renewable energies lies in their considerable spatial footprint. Solar and wind farms, while producing decarbonized energy, require significant surface areas that can conflict with other land uses – agriculture, biodiversity conservation, housing.
White hydrogen extraction is distinguished by a surface infrastructure comparable to that of conventional gas extraction, but dedicated to a single energy gas: hydrogen. The essential part of the "system" is then located underground, in geological formations, rather than on the surface in the form of vast electricity production facilities.
Minimal infrastructure, concentrated impact
Unlike hydrogen production facilities by electrolysis powered by large solar or wind farms, white hydrogen exploits verticality: the essential part of the system is located in the subsurface, which reduces land occupation for a given quantity of hydrogen produced.
The technologies developed by Caron Technologies International (CTI) fully align with this new approach to drilling. Their carbon-neutral Slim Hole drill, patented in six countries, enables the creation of wells only three inches in diameter and requires a platform of 9,700 ft² (900 m²) — representing 7.5% of the area of a conventional site. Thanks to its modular aluminum design, remote power unit, and electrified operation, it significantly limits disturbed areas, reduces cuttings, and minimizes environmental damage related to operations. This approach makes it possible to envision natural hydrogen extraction with an exceptionally low land footprint, perfectly aligned with modern ecosystem conservation requirements.
• Learn more about CTI's carbon-neutral drills
Concrete advantages
This low footprint presents immediate benefits:
• Reduction of land-use conflicts: less competition with agriculture and other sectors
• Social acceptability: limited visual impact, more discreet infrastructure than large wind or solar farms
• Potentially reduced land costs: fewer acquisitions or land easements
• Faster deployment: no construction of very large-scale electricity production infrastructure upstream of electrolyzers
Advantage #2: Limited water requirements
Water currently represents a critical issue for hydrogen production, particularly in arid regions where numerous mining and energy projects are implemented. In the case of hydrogen produced by electrolysis, water is both a feedstock and a cooling fluid, which can pose problems when water resources are constrained.
Geological hydrogen modifies this equation: hydrogen is already formed in the subsurface, and the industrial process consists mainly of extracting and purifying it, rather than manufacturing it from water or hydrocarbons.
Role of water in different pathways
Electrolysis: water is directly decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen, which requires ultra-pure water, treatment systems, as well as cooling circuits.
Natural gas reforming (SMR): water is used for steam production and process gas conditioning.
White hydrogen: since hydrogen is already present in the reservoir gas, water is mainly used for auxiliary operations (dehydration, cleaning, auxiliary cooling), and not as the primary reactant.
In the life cycle analysis conducted by Brandt on a reference case of geological hydrogen, water management appears as a minor contributor to the overall carbon intensity of the process, indicating that the volumes of water involved remain relatively modest compared to other emission categories. [2]
An asset in constrained contexts
This potential water sobriety is not just a theoretical advantage: it becomes particularly interesting in areas where water is a strategic resource and where energy projects are scrutinized based on their water consumption.
• Australia: since 2021, more than 40 natural hydrogen exploration licenses have been issued, and Gold Hydrogen has announced a deposit estimated between 1.3 and 8.8 million tons of hydrogen in the south of the country, illustrating growing interest in this resource in new geological basins. [1]
• West Africa (Mali): the Bourakébougou project demonstrates the technical viability of small-scale natural hydrogen exploitation in a rural context, with continuous village power supply for more than a decade. [1]
In a mining context, where water management is often a point of friction with local communities, the possibility of a low water-consuming hydrogen pathway therefore constitutes a potential strategic advantage.
Advantage #3: An exceptionally low carbon footprint
Beyond space and water, carbon footprint constitutes a decisive criterion for evaluating the sustainability of a hydrogen source. The complete life cycle analysis (LCA) of geological hydrogen conducted by Stanford University shows remarkable environmental performance: an average carbon intensity of approximately 0.37 kg CO₂eq per kilogram of hydrogen produced, or approximately 3 g CO₂eq per MJ based on the lower heating value. [2]
Comparison of carbon footprints
| Hydrogen source | Emissions (kg CO₂eq/kg H₂) |
|---|---|
| Geological hydrogen (base case) | ~0.37 |
| SMR without capture (natural gas) | ~16.4 |
| SMR with capture (CCS) | ~8.9 |
| Photovoltaic electrolysis | ~3.6 |
Even accounting for uncertainties and methodological differences between studies, the order of magnitude difference between geological hydrogen (~0.37 kg CO₂eq/kg H₂) and other pathways remains very pronounced.
Where do these low emissions come from?
In the case studied by Brandt, the main contributions to the carbon footprint of geological hydrogen come from:
• fugitive emissions (hydrogen leaks and possible traces of methane in the gas),
• "embodied" emissions in steel, cement, and equipment necessary for drilling and surface facilities,
• processing energy (compression, dehydration, gas separation).
His research shows that these contributions remain low overall, leading to a carbon intensity well below that of hydrogen produced from fossil fuels or even photovoltaic electrolysis when accounting for the embodied emissions of panels and electrolyzers. [2]
A counter-intuitive result: competing with "green" hydrogen
A particularly interesting result emerges when comparing white hydrogen to hydrogen produced by electrolysis powered by photovoltaic panels. The work cited by Brandt indicates an average carbon intensity of approximately 3.6 kg CO₂eq/kg H₂ for photovoltaic hydrogen, or approximately ten times higher than in the studied geological hydrogen case. [2]
The difference comes notably from the fact that:
• solar panels require silicon purification, module manufacturing and transportation,
• electrolyzers require specific materials and manufacturing processes,
• the entire electrical infrastructure (transformers, wiring, possible storage) also has an embodied carbon footprint.
Conversely, in the case of white hydrogen, the main "reactor" is the geological formation itself, already in place and active through serpentinization, which avoids part of the emissions associated with manufacturing hydrogen production equipment. [1][2]
Overall reduction compared to natural gas
For a more complete picture, the final use phase must be included. Brandt estimates that, integrating production, transport, and final use, geological hydrogen could offer an overall reduction of approximately 90 to 95% in greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional natural gas used for the same quantity of useful energy. [2]
Such decarbonization opens the way to applications in sectors difficult to electrify: iron ore reduction, high-temperature heat for cement production, long-distance maritime transport, or energy-intensive mining applications.
Conclusion
In a context of urgent energy transition, white hydrogen deserves particular attention. Its three structural advantages : potentially minimal spatial footprint, limited water requirements, and very low carbon footprint in the studied scenarios, make it a particularly interesting resource for the 21st century. [1][2]
For the mining industry, white hydrogen presents concrete opportunities, particularly in contexts where water supply is constrained or energy infrastructure is limited, and where skills in geological exploration and fluid extraction are already well developed.
Certainly, several uncertainties remain: the actual extent of global reserves, the variability of deposit composition, the recharge dynamics of reservoirs, and the development of appropriate regulatory frameworks. [1] These questions require investments in research and exploration to refine detection and resource evaluation methods.
Nevertheless, in the context of the energy transition, white hydrogen constitutes a complementary option to other low-carbon hydrogen sources. Its development will contribute to diversifying the energy mix and meeting the growing needs for decarbonized hydrogen in industrial and transport sectors.
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References
[1] Blay-Roger, R. et al. (2024). Natural hydrogen in the energy transition. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 189, 113888.
[2] Brandt, A. R. (2023). Greenhouse gas intensity of geologic hydrogen. Stanford University / EarthArXiv.
