Canadian Mine Could Release Enough Natural Hydrogen to Power 400 Homes Annually

Researchers at the Kidd Creek Mine in Ontario, Canada, have measured natural hydrogen (white hydrogen) discharging from boreholes up to 1.8 miles underground. The study, published May 18 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that the mine's nearly 15,000 boreholes collectively release over 150 million U.S. tons of hydrogen per year, equivalent to 4.7 million kilowatts of energy—enough to power more than 400 households. The work was led by Barbara Sherwood Lollar, a geochemist at the University of Toronto, and Oliver Warr, a geochemist at the University of Ottawa. They collected groundwater from 35 boreholes over a decade, with some sampled regularly for 7 to 11 years. Analysis revealed an average release of 0.009 U.S. tons per borehole annually. The mine is located in the Canadian Shield, a geologic formation rich in metals and old rocks that produce hydrogen through water-rock reactions and radioactive decay. Currently, white hydrogen is only actively extracted in Bourakebougou, Mali, where it was accidentally discovered in 1987. The study suggests mines could provide a cost-effective domestic energy source, as over 70% of continental crust can potentially produce hydrogen. Geoffrey Ellis of the U.S. Geological Survey noted the importance of rigorous quantitative data, while Terry Coughlan of Mongoose Mining highlighted growing global interest in white hydrogen.