There’s enough natural hydrogen in the Earth’s crust to help power the green energy transition – The Conversation

Report on Natural Hydrogen’s Role in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: An Emerging Clean Energy Resource

Geological processes within the Earth’s crust have generated vast quantities of natural hydrogen over billions of years. Recent findings indicate that significant accumulations of this hydrogen may be trapped in accessible subsurface reservoirs, presenting a substantial opportunity to support the global energy transition. The successful production of near-pure hydrogen from a gas field in Mali has catalyzed global interest, positioning natural hydrogen as a key contributor to achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Advancing SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

A Low-Carbon Energy Source

Natural hydrogen emerges as a promising clean energy source with a carbon footprint comparable to, or potentially lower than, green hydrogen. This stands in stark contrast to conventional hydrogen production, which is derived from fossil fuels and accounts for approximately 2.5% of global carbon dioxide emissions. The development of natural hydrogen resources is therefore critical for advancing SDG 13 by providing a scalable, low-emission energy alternative.

Global Potential and Exploration

The scale of this resource is significant, with recent estimates from the U.S. Geological Survey suggesting that accessible natural hydrogen could meet global demand for several hundred years. This potential has spurred a rapid increase in exploration activities.

• By the end of 2023, 40 companies were actively exploring for natural hydrogen globally.
• This number is projected to have doubled since the beginning of 2024.
• Governments in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe are now investigating its potential.

This exploration directly supports the objective of SDG 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Supporting Industry, Innovation, and Economic Growth (SDG 9 & SDG 8)

Decarbonizing Critical Sectors

Natural hydrogen can facilitate the decarbonization of hard-to-abate industries, a key target of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Current industrial hydrogen consumption is dominated by sectors vital to the global economy:

1. Fuel Refining: ~44%
2. Ammonia and Fertilizer Production: ~34%, directly supporting SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through its role in food sustainability.
3. Steel Manufacturing: ~5%

Future applications in long-distance transportation and mining will further enhance the resilience and sustainability of global infrastructure.

Infrastructure and Resource Efficiency

The development of natural hydrogen leverages existing knowledge and infrastructure from the petroleum industry, requiring comparable well technology. This synergy promotes innovation and sustainable industrialization under SDG 9. Furthermore, natural hydrogen projects offer distinct environmental advantages:

• Smaller Land Footprint: Production requires significantly less surface area compared to green hydrogen facilities, which depend on extensive solar or wind farms.
• Water Conservation: Unlike green hydrogen production, natural hydrogen extraction does not rely on surface water resources, a critical benefit that aligns with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Co-production of Helium: The geological processes that create hydrogen also release helium, a valuable element on Canada’s Critical Minerals list, enhancing the economic viability and resource efficiency of projects, thereby contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

The Imperative for Policy and Partnerships (SDG 16 & SDG 17)

Establishing Effective Governance

A primary obstacle to widespread investment is the absence of clear regulatory frameworks. To unlock the full potential of natural hydrogen, governments must establish policies that recognize it as a natural resource. This is a crucial step for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), as effective governance is required to:

• Provide legal certainty for exploration and land acquisition.
• Enable investment in necessary infrastructure.
• Ensure meaningful community consultations and social license to operate.

Fostering Global Collaboration

The growing interest from major venture capital investors, international resource companies, and multiple governments underscores the need for global cooperation, a cornerstone of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The case of South Australia demonstrates the power of effective policy; after implementing regulations for natural hydrogen, the government received dozens of exploration applications. This highlights that while the appetite for exploration exists, collaborative policy and regulatory solutions are essential to transform natural hydrogen’s potential into a tangible contribution to a sustainable future.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  
  The article’s central theme is the potential of natural hydrogen as a massive, clean energy source that could contribute to the “green energy transition” and power the “global hydrogen economy for hundreds of years.”
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  
  The text discusses the use of hydrogen to “decarbonize hard-to-abate but globally critical industries” like steel manufacturing and fuel refining. It also highlights the need for innovation in exploration strategies and new infrastructure comparable to hydrocarbon wells.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  
  The article directly addresses climate action by presenting natural hydrogen as a low-carbon alternative to current hydrogen production from fossil fuels, which contributes “about 2.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.”
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
  
  A connection is made to food security through the mention that hydrogen is a key component in “ammonia and fertilizer production for food sustainability.” A cleaner source for this process supports sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  
  The article points out an environmental advantage of natural hydrogen, stating that its production projects “do not need to draw on surface water resources, which are scarce in many parts of the world,” unlike other energy production methods.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  
  The potential for a “global hydrogen economy” and the significant investment from venture capital and resource companies suggest a new avenue for economic growth. The article discusses making this growth sustainable by decoupling it from environmental degradation.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
  
  The article emphasizes the critical need for policy and regulatory frameworks, noting that their absence “is a major obstacle for exploration” and prevents essential “community consultations” and “social acceptance.”

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
    
    The article supports this by presenting natural hydrogen as a new, potentially massive source of clean energy that could supplement or compete with green hydrogen, thereby increasing the overall share of clean energy.
  • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
    
    The text highlights that the discovery has attracted “the attention of governments in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe” and that “40 companies were exploring natural hydrogen globally,” indicating growing international cooperation and interest in this technology.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
    
    The article explicitly mentions using natural hydrogen to “decarbonize hard-to-abate but globally critical industries,” including fuel refining, fertilizer production, and steel manufacturing, which is a direct application of this target.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
    
    The article stresses that a primary barrier to investment is regulatory and that governments must include hydrogen as a listed natural resource. The example of South Australia shows how implementing “legislation… regulating natural hydrogen exploration” can spur action, directly reflecting the integration of climate-friendly energy sources into national policy.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
    
    The article notes that “natural hydrogen projects do not need to draw on surface water resources,” which is a significant advantage in water-scarce regions and contributes directly to more efficient water use in the energy sector compared to alternatives like green hydrogen production.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

  • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
    
    The text criticizes the lack of regulation because it means “no community consultations are undertaken to ensure the social acceptance essential for the success of such projects,” directly calling for the inclusive and participatory processes described in this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 7.2 & 13.2 (Clean Energy Share & Climate Policy)

  • Indicator: Reduction in CO2 emissions from hydrogen production.
    
    The article provides a baseline: “hydrogen production contributes about 2.5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.” Progress can be measured by tracking the reduction of this percentage as natural hydrogen is adopted.
  • Indicator: Growth in exploration and investment.
    
    The article mentions “40 companies were exploring natural hydrogen globally” by late 2023 and that this number “has likely doubled since 2024.” This number serves as a direct indicator of the growing investment in and adoption of this clean energy source.

• For Target 9.4 (Sustainable Industries)

  • Indicator: Percentage of industrial hydrogen demand met by natural hydrogen.
    
    The article breaks down current hydrogen use by industry: “fuel refining (about 44 per cent), ammonia and fertilizer production for food sustainability (about 34 per cent), and steel manufacturing (about five per cent).” Progress can be measured by the percentage of this demand that shifts from fossil-fuel-based hydrogen to natural hydrogen.

• For Target 16.7 (Inclusive Institutions)

  • Indicator: Number of jurisdictions with clear regulatory frameworks for natural hydrogen that mandate community consultation.
    
    The article contrasts jurisdictions with no clear policies with the success of a “project in South Australia” where “regulation of natural hydrogen exploration and capture was implemented.” The number of governments adopting similar comprehensive regulations is a clear measure of progress.

• For Target 6.4 (Water-Use Efficiency)

  • Indicator: Comparative water consumption per unit of energy produced.
    
    The article implies this indicator by stating natural hydrogen projects “do not need to draw on surface water resources.” Progress can be measured by comparing the water footprint of natural hydrogen production against that of green hydrogen (which requires water for electrolysis) and other energy sources.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theconversation.com