A groundbreaking discovery by a team of scientists from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto could reshape the future of global energy. The researchers have identified vast natural reserves of hydrogen buried deep within the Earth’s continental crust—potentially enough to meet the world’s energy needs for the next 1.7 lakh years, and all without adding to pollution.

This naturally occurring hydrogen, now being dubbed ‘white hydrogen,’ is considered a clean, carbon-free fuel. Unlike conventional hydrogen, which is typically produced using coal or natural gas—processes that release significant CO₂ emissions—white hydrogen forms naturally underground through the chemical reaction between water and certain types of rock. When used as fuel, hydrogen emits only water vapour, making it a vital asset in the global effort to combat climate change.

The scientists say this gas isn’t pooled in large underground caverns like oil or gas, but rather, it gradually forms and accumulates in pockets beneath the Earth’s crust over time. The team has already mapped promising signs of hydrogen leakage in Canada’s ancient rock formations—specifically within the Canadian Shield—but stresses that similar geological conditions may exist globally.

Despite the immense potential, extracting this underground hydrogen poses unique challenges. Traditional drilling methods used for oil and gas will not be sufficient. The process requires precise geological mapping, new technological approaches, and a sensitive understanding of hydrogen’s subterranean flow and accumulation behaviour.

While technical hurdles remain, the discovery has triggered a new wave of exploration interest across the scientific and energy sectors. If scalable methods of extraction can be developed, white hydrogen could become a cornerstone of the green energy transition—offering a long-term, non-polluting solution to the planet’s growing energy demand.

This natural resource could mark the beginning of a new era in energy exploration—one where clean hydrogen doesn’t have to be manufactured but can be harvested directly from the Earth itself.

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https://www.india.com/news/world/scientists-discover-huge-reserves-of-green-fuel-deep-inside-earth-enough-to-meet-energy-needs-for-pollution-hydrogen-university-of-oxford-toronto-university-canada-canadian-shield-7988622/#