The recent announcement of a 46-million-ton white hydrogen reserve in Moselle, eastern France, confirmed a global trend: growing industrial interest in this relatively untapped energy resource. This potential, valued at nearly $92 billion, positions France as a leading nation regarding currently identified reserves, bolstering French ambitions in the energy sector.
Resources already exploited in Africa
Mali, with the Bourakébougou site operated by Hydroma for over a decade, remains the only current example of successful commercial exploitation. The deposit produces hydrogen with a purity of 98%, powering a local electrical plant since 2012. This practical case has spurred other nations to intensify research, highlighting potential profitability and attracting international investors’ attention.
Emergence of new players in Europe
In Europe, Albania made significant strides with the recent discovery of a reservoir estimated at 50,000 tons near Bulqizë. Found in an abandoned chromium mine, the site releases approximately 200 tons of natural hydrogen annually. The economic attractiveness of this discovery, combined with proximity to European markets, could position Albania as a strategic new player.
America and Australia accelerate efforts
In the United States, Natural Hydrogen Energy LLC initiated a pilot drilling project in Nebraska in 2023, attracting increasing interest from both private and institutional American investors. Concurrently, Australia has already granted around thirty exclusive exploration permits, demonstrating a clear ambition to actively participate in this emerging market. These initiatives underscore a rapidly intensifying international competition.
Promising signals elsewhere in the world
Other regions, including Brazil, Namibia, and Iceland, also exhibit promising indications of white hydrogen reserves beneath their surface. These preliminary discoveries heighten sector expectations about the global scope of available reserves. However, precise capacities remain to be confirmed through further geological studies and deeper exploration.
Amid this international momentum, the global energy market’s attention now focuses on upcoming exploration phases, which will determine the actual economic impact of white hydrogen within the future global energy mix.
