Switched On Drilling for Gold: The Hydrogen Beneath Our Feet
15 snips
Jan 8, 2025 Sami Alisawi, a geologic hydrogen expert from BNEF, and Musfika Mishi, a tech and innovation specialist at BNEF, explore the fascinating potential of gold hydrogen—an accessible, eco-friendly alternative to conventional hydrogen. They discuss its economic viability, highlighting successful case studies like a significant hydrogen find in Mali. The duo also addresses the technological hurdles in extraction and transportation, and the intriguing synergies with helium extraction that could shape the future of the hydrogen market.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Vast Hydrogen Potential
- Geologic hydrogen exists in vast quantities, potentially millions of tons per year.
- This amount is significant, even if only a fraction is accessible, compared to the 90 million tons of hydrogen currently consumed annually.
Accidental Hydrogen Discovery
- In 1987, an accidental explosion during water well drilling in Mali led to the discovery of a hydrogen reservoir.
- The well, initially deemed useless, was later found to contain nearly pure hydrogen and now powers local villages.
Clean Hydrogen Source
- Geologic hydrogen has the potential to be the cleanest hydrogen source, with a low carbon intensity.
- Its cleanliness depends on hydrogen purity, with higher purity leading to lower emissions.