Map of hydrogen prospectivity for the contiguous United States, identifying regions with favorable conditions for hydrogen accumulation, which includes areas with potential hydrogen sources, porous reservoirs, and effective seals to trap the gas.
Why is geologic hydrogen important?
Hydrogen is a clean fuel, meaning when it burns, it only produces heat and water as a byproduct. This makes it attractive as an alternative to fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide. Geologic hydrogen has the potential to be a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy source within the United States and around the world.
Learn More: USGS Geologic Hydrogen
Related
What is geologic hydrogen?
Geologic hydrogen, also known as natural hydrogen, is hydrogen gas that is naturally found below the surface of the Earth. Unlike hydrogen produced through industrial processes, geologic hydrogen is sourced by and stored in rocks in the ground, similar to traditional petroleum resources. Learn More: USGS Geologic Hydrogen Geologic Hydrogen Prospectivity Map Explorer
Why haven’t we found geologic hydrogen before?
A simple explanation is that we haven’t been looking in the right places with the right tools. Historically, subsurface energy drilling was not targeting hydrogen gas and companies often didn’t account for it during exploration. More importantly, geologic settings where hydrogen generation is likely to occur are not the same places where petroleum is found. There are potentially large amounts of...
How is geologic hydrogen formed?
Geologic hydrogen is formed through natural processes deep within the Earth. One common way it forms is through a reaction between water and certain iron-rich rocks, a process known as serpentinization. Another common way it forms is through the process of radiolysis, where natural radiation deep in the Earth breaks down water molecules to produce hydrogen. Learn More: USGS Geologic Hydrogen...
What are gas hydrates?
Gas hydrates are a crystalline solid formed of water and gas. It looks and acts much like ice, but it contains huge amounts of methane; it is known to occur on every continent; and it exists in huge quantities in marine sediments in a layer several hundred meters thick directly below the sea floor and in association with permafrost in the Arctic. It is not stable at normal sea-level pressures and...
What is coal?
Coal is a sedimentary deposit composed predominantly of carbon that is readily combustible. Coal is black or brownish-black, and has a composition that (including inherent moisture) consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered, and metamorphosed by heat...
Geologic Hydrogen web map
Map of hydrogen prospectivity for the contiguous United States, identifying regions with favorable conditions for hydrogen accumulation, which includes areas with potential hydrogen sources, porous reservoirs, and effective seals to trap the gas.
Geologic Energy Storage
Schematic cross section showing examples of chemical, mechanical, and thermal geologic energy storage methods in potential underground settings in a sedimentary basin. This illustration is a higher resolution version of figure 2 of USGS Fact Sheet 2022-3084.
Schematic cross section showing examples of chemical, mechanical, and thermal geologic energy storage methods in potential underground settings in a sedimentary basin. This illustration is a higher resolution version of figure 2 of USGS Fact Sheet 2022-3084.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Diagram of how a Hydrogen Fuel Cell functions, with inputs and outputs. Courtesy of the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
Diagram of how a Hydrogen Fuel Cell functions, with inputs and outputs. Courtesy of the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
Related
What is geologic hydrogen?
Geologic hydrogen, also known as natural hydrogen, is hydrogen gas that is naturally found below the surface of the Earth. Unlike hydrogen produced through industrial processes, geologic hydrogen is sourced by and stored in rocks in the ground, similar to traditional petroleum resources. Learn More: USGS Geologic Hydrogen Geologic Hydrogen Prospectivity Map Explorer
Why haven’t we found geologic hydrogen before?
A simple explanation is that we haven’t been looking in the right places with the right tools. Historically, subsurface energy drilling was not targeting hydrogen gas and companies often didn’t account for it during exploration. More importantly, geologic settings where hydrogen generation is likely to occur are not the same places where petroleum is found. There are potentially large amounts of...
How is geologic hydrogen formed?
Geologic hydrogen is formed through natural processes deep within the Earth. One common way it forms is through a reaction between water and certain iron-rich rocks, a process known as serpentinization. Another common way it forms is through the process of radiolysis, where natural radiation deep in the Earth breaks down water molecules to produce hydrogen. Learn More: USGS Geologic Hydrogen...
What are gas hydrates?
Gas hydrates are a crystalline solid formed of water and gas. It looks and acts much like ice, but it contains huge amounts of methane; it is known to occur on every continent; and it exists in huge quantities in marine sediments in a layer several hundred meters thick directly below the sea floor and in association with permafrost in the Arctic. It is not stable at normal sea-level pressures and...
What is coal?
Coal is a sedimentary deposit composed predominantly of carbon that is readily combustible. Coal is black or brownish-black, and has a composition that (including inherent moisture) consists of more than 50 percent by weight and more than 70 percent by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered, and metamorphosed by heat...
Geologic Hydrogen web map
Map of hydrogen prospectivity for the contiguous United States, identifying regions with favorable conditions for hydrogen accumulation, which includes areas with potential hydrogen sources, porous reservoirs, and effective seals to trap the gas.
Map of hydrogen prospectivity for the contiguous United States, identifying regions with favorable conditions for hydrogen accumulation, which includes areas with potential hydrogen sources, porous reservoirs, and effective seals to trap the gas.
Geologic Energy Storage
Schematic cross section showing examples of chemical, mechanical, and thermal geologic energy storage methods in potential underground settings in a sedimentary basin. This illustration is a higher resolution version of figure 2 of USGS Fact Sheet 2022-3084.
Schematic cross section showing examples of chemical, mechanical, and thermal geologic energy storage methods in potential underground settings in a sedimentary basin. This illustration is a higher resolution version of figure 2 of USGS Fact Sheet 2022-3084.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Diagram of how a Hydrogen Fuel Cell functions, with inputs and outputs. Courtesy of the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
Diagram of how a Hydrogen Fuel Cell functions, with inputs and outputs. Courtesy of the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration.
Updated Date: January 31, 2025