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Drilling for Gold: The Hydrogen Beneath Our Feet
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.
29:10
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Quick takeaways
- Gold hydrogen offers a promising alternative to synthetic methods due to its lower carbon intensity and potential cost advantages.
- Significant technical and economic challenges remain in the extraction and viability of gold hydrogen, impacting its role in a clean energy transition.
Deep dives
Overview of Gold Hydrogen
Gold hydrogen, also known as geologic hydrogen, is defined as naturally occurring hydrogen found underground. Unlike synthetic hydrogen production methods, gold hydrogen possesses lower carbon intensity and cost potential. Various hypotheses exist regarding its formation, including radiolysis, serpentinization, and mantle degassing, but the dominant mechanism remains uncertain. Despite its theoretical promise, successful extraction examples are limited, creating significant technical and economic challenges for the industry.
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