As the search continues for more energy, from cleaner and newer sources, a largely untapped resource has manifested: natural hydrogen.
Hydrogen may be found worldwide, including ocean ridges and continental formations such as the Midcontinent Rift in North America; that's a band of mostly rocks extending from Minnesota through the Lake Superior region and southward toward Kansas.
HyTerra’s Nemaha Project in Kansas has confirmed subsurface hydrogen concentrations reaching more than 90% hydrogen & 3% helium. The higher concentration of hydrogen makes it more efficient and cost‑effective to recover.
Natural hydrogen occurs in the Earth’s crust, so there's zero cost for making it, and it emits zero carbon dioxide.
Hydrogen may be used for the fuel methanol, fertilizer production, and oil refining. Hydrogen demand worldwide is projected to grow for than five-fold by mid-century.
Public/private entities have looked for federal funding to help make Kansas a regional hub for the hydrogen economy.