France uncovers largest white hydrogen deposit

France has discovered a massive reserve of 46 million tons of natural hydrogen beneath the soil of Folschviller in the Moselle region. The discovery is being touted as a game-changing moment in the clean-energy sector. In 2023, two scientists in France uncovered what could be the largest known deposit of a clean energy resource with the potential to revolutionise the world.

As per the report, researchers from the GeoRessources laboratory and the CNRS stumbled upon an unexpected breakthrough while searching for methane — unearthing a massive natural hydrogen deposit 1,250 meters underground. This discovery is monumental, as it holds over half of the world’s annual gray hydrogen production — without the carbon emissions.

Unlike green and gray hydrogen, this “white hydrogen” requires no industrial production and emits no CO₂, offering a game-changing, sustainable energy source for the future. The hydrogen reserve is estimated to be valued at a whopping $92 trillion. Discovery of White Hydrogen: A Game-Changer for Clean Energy

French scientists Jacques Pironon and Philippe De Donato, both researchers at the National Centre of Scientific Research, stumbled upon one of the largest white hydrogen deposits ever found while assessing methane levels in the Lorraine mining basin. At shallow depths, hydrogen concentrations were minimal, but as they drilled deeper, levels surged to 14% at 1,100 meters and 20% at 1,250 meters — indicating a vast reservoir holding millions of metric tons of hydrogen.

White hydrogen, a naturally occurring gas in the Earth’s crust, is a relatively new discovery in the energy sector. Unlike other forms — gray, brown, blue, and green hydrogen — white hydrogen requires no industrial production and emits no carbon, making it an environmentally superior energy source. Its potential is enormous, with deposits found worldwide, including in the US, Russia, Australia, and Europe.

Hydrogen is considered the future of clean energy for industries like aviation, shipping, and steel production. Unlike solar or wind energy, it produces only water when burned. The discovery challenges previous assumptions that hydrogen must be lab-produced, proving it exists naturally. Moreover, white hydrogen could be a cost-effective alternative, estimated at just $1 per kilogram compared to green hydrogen’s $6 per kilogram.