Natural hydrogen, also known as white hydrogen, is a resource whose exploration holds significant potential for the energy industry. Unlike conventional production methods, which involve high costs and high energy consumption, this hydrogen forms naturally in the Earth’s subsurface through geological processes. The challenge lies in the ability to accurately locate and extract these reserves without disrupting geological balances.
Mantle8: A Scientific and Technological Approach
Founded in 2019, Mantle8 relies on expertise in geophysics, geology, and geochemistry to map natural hydrogen reservoirs with unparalleled precision. Its technology enables the visualization of buried hydrogen and the assessment of exploitable volumes. This approach could reduce production costs to €0.80/kg by 2028, significantly lower than the cost of green hydrogen, which ranges between €6 and €8/kg.
Strategic Funding for Expansion
The €3.4 million fundraising round, led by Kiko Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Ventures Europe (BEV-E), aims to finance research and deploy Mantle8’s technology on a larger scale. The company plans a pilot project in France to test its exploration capabilities under real conditions and precisely quantify the identified reserves.
International Ambitions and Future Prospects
By 2030, Mantle8 aims to identify 10 million tons of natural hydrogen. This quantity represents an opportunity for the European Union, which has set ambitious targets for the development of renewable hydrogen. The Renewable Energy Directive foresees a 42% share of clean hydrogen in industry by 2030, a target that could be facilitated by the exploitation of low-cost natural reserves.
A Changing Market
The hydrogen market is attracting more and more industrial players seeking cost-effective and technically viable solutions to power energy-intensive sectors such as steelmaking and air transport. Mantle8’s approach, based on advanced scientific precision, stands out from traditional exploration methods, which still largely rely on exploratory drilling based on geological assumptions.
The recent fundraising round positions Mantle8 as a key player in the exploration of natural hydrogen, with an economic model focused on reducing geological uncertainties and exploration costs.
