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Alps, Pyrenees Could Be Hydrogen Goldmines
24 Jun
Summary
- Researchers modeled mountain creation for hydrogen potential.
- Alps and Pyrenees show promise for natural hydrogen.
- Baetic mountains less likely to hold significant hydrogen.
Scientists are investigating whether the geological processes that formed major mountain ranges could have generated natural hydrogen. Hydrogen is crucial for decarbonizing challenging industries like steelmaking and shipping.
Recent research used plate tectonic simulations to analyze the Pyrenees, Alps, and Baetic mountains. The findings indicate that the Alps and Pyrenees are promising locations for natural hydrogen exploration. These models suggest that the specific rates of mountain uplift brought deep mantle rocks to the surface, enabling them to react with water and release hydrogen.
This released hydrogen likely accumulated in porous rock layers above. In contrast, the Baetic mountain range in southern Spain exhibited faster uplift and erosion rates. This geological activity suggests insufficient time for substantial hydrogen production and may have removed potential reservoir rocks, making them less likely to be significant natural hydrogen sources.
