Natural Hydrogen in India Unlocking Hydrogen Potential Introduction 

• As India accelerates efforts to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2070, the nation is exploring innovative and sustainable energy alternatives. 
• One promising development is the identification of natural geological hydrogen—commonly referred to as white or gold hydrogen—which could revolutionize India’s energy mix by offering a clean, cost-efficient, and scalable solution to decarbonization.

What is Natural Hydrogen and Why It Matters?

• Unlike conventional hydrogen, which is produced through energy-intensive processes like steam methane reforming or electrolysis, natural hydrogen is formed through geological processes beneath the Earth’s surface.
•  Tapping into these underground reserves could dramatically reduce the carbon footprint and costs associated with hydrogen production.

India’s Hydrogen Landscape: Current Demand and Future Needs

• Rising Demand for Hydrogen in India:

• • • India’s hydrogen consumption stood at around 6 million tonnes in 2020, driven largely by industries like oil refining and ammonia production.
    • To meet its climate commitments and enable the transition to clean fuels, India’s hydrogen demand is expected to surge to 50 million tonnes per year by 2070.

• Potential Role of Natural Hydrogen:

• • A recent academic study estimates India’s natural hydrogen reserves at approximately 3,475 million tonnes, indicating significant untapped potential.
  • These reserves could substantially reduce dependence on traditional, energy-intensive hydrogen production methods, providing a more sustainable pathway to meet future demand.

Geological Insights: Early Evidence of Natural Hydrogen in India

• Promising Geological Findings:

• • • Initial signs of underground hydrogen reservoirs have been observed in the Andaman Islands, marking a pivotal discovery in India’s energy exploration efforts.
    • Experts suggest that similar geological conditions exist across various parts of the Indian subcontinent, including cratonic and volcanic regions, which could host additional reserves.

• Theoretical Potential Still Needs Validation:

• • While the 3,475 million tonnes figure is encouraging, it remains a theoretical estimate.
  • Comprehensive and systematic geological surveys, drilling tests, and exploratory technologies are required to confirm these findings and assess commercial viability.

Why Natural Hydrogen Could Be a Game-Changer for India

• Low Environmental Impact: Natural hydrogen extraction could eliminate emissions associated with conventional hydrogen production.
• Cost Advantages: Avoids high electricity costs linked to electrolysis and infrastructure-heavy alternatives.
• Energy Security: Reduces reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy, aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) goals.
• Strategic Reserves: Offers a stable, long-term domestic energy resource to power sectors like transport, heavy industry, and grid storage.

Understanding India’s Geological Potential for Natural Hydrogen

• Promising Geological Zones:

• • Cratonic regions like the Dharwar and Singhbhum cratons
  • Sedimentary basins including the Vindhyan and Gondwana formations
  • Ophiolite belts in the Himalayas and Andaman Islands
• These areas exhibit essential features such as:
  • Hydrogen-generating rocks rich in iron and ultramafic minerals
  • Seals and subsurface traps capable of retaining hydrogen
  • Geological structures conducive to large-scale gas accumulation

Need for a National Mapping Initiative

• India lacks a comprehensive understanding of its subsurface hydrogen landscape. To address this, the country needs a nationwide geological hydrogen mapping mission, akin to:
  • AusLAMP (Australia)
  • USArray (United States)
• Such initiatives can create 3D resistivity models of subsurface formations using magnetotelluric and petrophysical surveys.

Role of Public-Private Partnerships

• A collaborative model involving government bodies, private energy firms, and research institutions will be essential to implement large-scale exploration and data collection.

Overcoming Technological and Safety Barriers

• Key Challenges:

• • • Detection Complexity: Unlike oil or gas, hydrogen lacks mature detection techniques, making exploration unpredictable and resource-intensive.
    • Difficult Extraction: Hydrogen’s small molecular structure and high diffusivity necessitate the development of specialized extraction infrastructure.
    • Safety Concerns: Its flammability and reactivity demand robust safety measures in well design, storage, and transport.

• Innovation in Materials and Equipment: To ensure operational safety and longevity, the industry must:

• • • Utilize hydrogen-resistant coatings
    • Modify cement additives for well casing
    • Upgrade rubber linings and gaskets in transport systems

• Retrofitting Existing Infrastructure:

• • Research is ongoing to adapt current natural gas pipelines and storage systems for hydrogen transport, reducing the need for entirely new infrastructure.

Global Innovation and India’s Strategic Opportunity

• • Several countries, including the United States, are advancing beyond basic extraction toward innovative hydrogen generation techniques.

• Leading International Initiatives: ARPA-E (U.S.) is exploring:

• • • Inducing hydrogen production by injecting water into iron-rich rock formations
    • Combining carbon capture with hydrogen extraction
    • Designing intentional underground hydrogen reactors

• How India Can Leverage Its Strengths:

• • Utilize existing oil and gas networks under the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) to initiate hydrogen exploration.
  • Analyze rock cores from previously drilled wells to identify hydrogen potential at minimal cost.
  • Repurpose existing gas pipelines, with modifications, for hydrogen transport.

Commercializing Natural Hydrogen 

• • Key Enablers of Commercialization:
    • Discovery of economically extractable reserves
    • Affordable extraction technologies
    • Clear regulatory policies to attract investors
    • Government support via funding, tax incentives, and pilot projects

• A Blueprint for Success: Learn from the National Solar Mission

• India’s National Solar Mission successfully boosted solar capacity through:
  • Early investment in resource mapping
  • Transparent public-private collaboration
  • Targeted policy incentives
  • A similar Natural Hydrogen Mapping Mission could serve as a foundational pillar to catalyze commercial interest and innovation.

Conclusion

• India is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in natural hydrogen exploration and utilization. With geological indicators pointing to vast reserves and global momentum building, the country stands on the brink of a new energy era. To seize this opportunity, India must:
  • Undertake rigorous scientific exploration
  • Develop technological solutions for detection, extraction, and transport
  • Create a policy ecosystem that supports innovation and investment
  • Ensure safety and sustainability across all operations
  • Natural hydrogen could become the silent revolution that propels India toward a secure, indigenous, and decarbonized energy future.