Why in the News?

Recently, a study has arrived at a value of 3,475 million tonnes of natural hydrogen potential in India.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Hydrogen (India’s Demand, Resource Potential, Geological Factors, Challenges, Opportunity, etc.)

Introduction

• As India pursues its ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, the search for cleaner, cost-effective, and scalable energy alternatives has intensified.
• Among emerging options, naturally occurring geological hydrogen, also known as white or gold hydrogen, has attracted significant attention for its potential to decarbonize the economy without the high energy input required for conventional hydrogen production.
• With early signs of significant reserves and increasing global momentum in exploration technology, natural hydrogen may play a pivotal role in securing India's energy future.

India’s Hydrogen Demand and Resource Potential

• India's annual hydrogen demand is expected to grow from 6 million tonnes in 2020 to over 50 million tonnes by 2070 to align with its net-zero goals.
• A preliminary academic estimate places India’s natural hydrogen potential at approximately 3,475 million tonnes, which could substantially offset the need for manufacturing hydrogen via energy-intensive methods like electrolysis.
• Recent findings of underground hydrogen in the Andaman Islands and analogous geological formations across India suggest untapped reserves.
• However, these possibilities remain theoretical until validated by comprehensive geological surveys.

Geological Factors and Exploration Needs

• Tapping natural hydrogen requires a robust understanding of India’s diverse geophysical landscape.
• Regions like the Dharwar and Singhbhum cratons, Vindhyan and Gondwana basins, and ophiolite complexes in the Himalayas and Andamans show promising characteristics such as:

• Presence of hydrogen-generating rocks
• Adequate seals and traps to contain the gas
• Subsurface features suitable for large accumulations

• India needs a nationwide geological mapping initiative, similar to those undertaken by Australia (AusLAMP) and the U.S. (USArray), to build a 3D model of subsurface resistivity and identify potential hydrogen zones.
• Such efforts would require public-private partnerships and the deployment of advanced magnetotelluric and petrophysical survey techniques.

Technological and Safety Challenges

• Despite its promise, natural hydrogen exploration is fraught with challenges:
  • Detection Difficulty: Unlike oil and natural gas, hydrogen lacks established discovery methods, making detection complex and uncertain.
  • Extraction Limitations: Hydrogen’s small molecular size and high diffusivity demand specialized extraction technologies and infrastructure.
  • Safety Risks: Hydrogen’s reactivity necessitates innovations in well design and materials. Hydrogen-resistant coatings, modified cement additives, and upgraded rubber linings are essential to ensure safety in storage and transport.
• Technological research is underway to retrofit existing gas infrastructure and develop cost-effective extraction and storage methods.

International Approaches and India’s Opportunity

• Countries like the United States are already advancing beyond mere extraction. The U.S. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is investing in:
  • Inducing hydrogen generation by injecting water into iron-rich rocks
  • Combining carbon sequestration with hydrogen production
  • Developing intentional geological hydrogen reactors
• India can adopt a similar vision by leveraging its existing oil and gas exploration network, particularly under the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons.
• Reviewing rock cores from previously drilled wells could offer a low-cost starting point for exploration.
• Some existing natural gas pipelines may also be repurposed for hydrogen transport, subject to modifications.

Kickstarting Commercialization and Policy Support

• While the long-term cost of natural hydrogen production may be lower than green or grey hydrogen, initial exploration and infrastructure costs are substantial.
• Commercial viability hinges on:
  • Discovery of large, accessible reserves
  • Development of low-cost extraction techniques
  • Transparent and enabling regulatory frameworks
  • Targeted government support through grants and incentives
• India can replicate the success of its National Solar Mission, which benefited from early investment in solar resource mapping and public-private coordination.
• A Natural Hydrogen Mapping Mission could serve a similar catalytic role.

Conclusion

India stands at a promising threshold in the global energy transition. Natural hydrogen offers a clean, indigenous energy source with strategic and economic advantages. However, unlocking this potential will require coordinated scientific exploration, technology development, safety infrastructure, and policy vision.

As global energy systems evolve, natural hydrogen may well become the silent revolution that powers India toward a secure and sustainable future.