Unlocking the Potential of Natural Hydrogen: Nebraska Researchers Explore Midcontinent Rift

University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers are investigating the Midcontinent Rift, a vast underground region spanning six states, to harness natural hydrogen as a clean energy source.

Key Findings

1. Abundant hydrogen reserves: Estimates suggest tens of millions to tens of billions of megatons of hydrogen in the Earth’s crust.
2. Renewable energy source: Hydrogen produces no carbon emissions and renews constantly through water-rock interactions.
3. Economically viable: Preliminary data from a Nebraska test well indicates trapped hydrogen at an economically meaningful scale.

The Research

Led by Seunghee Kim, Charles J. Vranek Associate Professor of civil engineering, the team aims to:

1. Understand hydrogen production, migration, and accumulation processes.
2. Determine feasibility of hydrogen storage and extraction.
3. Investigate biogeochemical and microbiological implications.

Global Implications

1. Global energy potential: Accessible natural hydrogen could meet global energy needs for thousands of years.
2. International applications: Similar subsurface rifts in France, Germany, Russia, and Africa may also produce hydrogen.

Interdisciplinary Approach

Researchers from civil engineering, Earth sciences, and biological systems engineering collaborate to:

1. Develop computational modeling tools.
2. Integrate data on hydrogen flow, storage, and microbial interactions.

Funding

The $1 million, five-year project is funded by the National Science Foundation’s RAISE initiative.

Conclusion

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s research paves the way for harnessing natural hydrogen, offering a promising solution for reducing fossil fuel reliance and mitigating climate change.