Unexplored U.S. Hot Spots: Potential for Underground Hydrogen Energy Production
Key Ideas
- The U.S. Geological Survey identified hot spots across the Midwest, Southeast, and California coast with potential underground hydrogen stores.
- Federal officials are exploring geologic hydrogen as an energy source to reduce the country's carbon footprint.
- The study focused on areas with the right geological conditions for hydrogen accumulation, including hydrogen sources, reservoir rocks, and gas-trapping seals.
- While uncertainties exist regarding the volumes of underground hydrogen, the potential for energy production from this untapped resource is significant.
The U.S. Geological Survey recently released a report in Science Advances highlighting unexplored U.S. hot spots that may contain significant underground hydrogen stores. These areas located in the Midwest, Southeast, and along the California coast present a promising opportunity for energy production. Federal scientists are studying geologic hydrogen as a potential energy source to help reduce the nation's carbon footprint. The study focused on identifying regions with the necessary geological conditions for hydrogen accumulation, including hydrogen sources, reservoir rocks, and gas-trapping seals. While uncertainties remain regarding the exact volumes of underground hydrogen due to various geological processes, the findings suggest a substantial potential for utilizing this untapped resource for energy generation.