Australia\u2019s highly politicised energy debate may be away with the fairies.<\/p>\n
But the otherworldly rings that mark their Outback homes may represent a solution right under our noses.<\/p>\n
Geological hydrogen.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve known about it for more than a decade now.<\/p>\n
But the subject appears to have been brushed aside by Canberra\u2019s lobbyists.<\/p>\n
Fairy circles are an indicator of underground reservoirs of natural hydrogen percolating up from deep within the Earth. But it\u2019s also likely to be found in Australia\u2019s magnetite iron ore mines.<\/p>\n
Hydrogen means fuel.<\/p>\n
Fuel that burns without pollution.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia could be sitting on a massive, untapped energy reserve,\u201d states Edith Cowan University Associate Professor Alireza Keshavarz<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThere is enough hydrogen for Australia to benefit for generations, and potentially enough for us to become a major exporter of clean energy to the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n But the science isn\u2019t there yet.<\/p>\n Are there truly vast, untapped reservoirs trapped within Australia\u2019s depleted iron ore fields? Under our ancient, eroded mountains? <\/p>\n Within our broad, flat deserts?<\/p>\n It\u2019s a tantalising prospect.<\/p>\n It\u2019s one that may even satisfy disgruntled fossil fuel mining magnates.<\/p>\n After all, they\u2019re the ones who would be needed to tap it. And they already own most of the most promising land.<\/p>\n Now, the race is on.<\/p>\n Who will be the first to prove hydrogen fairies actually exist \u2013 and that they can be put to work?<\/p>\n Drill, Baby, Drill!<\/p>\n \u201cNatural hydrogen is already made \u2013 it just has to be collected,\u201d argues University of Kansas chemical engineer Promise Longe<\/a>. <\/p>\n It\u2019s about the geology, stupid.<\/p>\n The US Geological Survey estimates that about 5 trillion tons of natural hydrogen sits buried beneath the Earth\u2019s crust. <\/p>\n \u201cEven 2 per cent of that total would be more than all proven natural gas reserves on the planet and enough to meet projected demand for the next 200 years, even accounting for increased consumption,\u201d Longe adds.<\/p>\n But the relatively limited search for viable underground reservoirs is yet to produce promising results. <\/p>\n Fairy circles, however, may be a dead giveaway.<\/p>\n Researchers say these mysterious formations<\/a> are caused by pressurised hydrogen bubbling up through sedimentary soils. This pushes aside water, shaping the fertility of the surface. Thus, the appearance of stark, dead circles bordered by hardy plant growth \u2013 often hundreds of metres across.<\/p>\n \u201cFairy circles could thus serve as natural signposts in the future for finding underground hydrogen sources \u2014 a potentially inexhaustible and environmentally friendly energy source,\u201d enthuses University of Vienna Department of Geology head Bernhard Grasemann.<\/p>\n Another hope is that the geological process can be hurried along.<\/p>\n Edith Cowan University researchers believe Australia\u2019s Pilbara iron ore mines may conceal the key to securing our future energy needs.<\/p>\n Underground, iron-rich magnetite deposits produce hydrogen when combined with hot water under pressure. It\u2019s a natural process that\u2019s been happening for millions of years.<\/p>\n Then there are the ancient fault lines where igneous rocks mix with sedimentary rock. Here, water again comes in contact with minerals that react to form hydrogen.<\/p>\n Just Add Water?<\/p>\n The idea is to pump hot (250C) water into underground magnetite deposits. And catch the resulting hydrogen gas.<\/p>\n The Edith Cowan study<\/a> says the challenge is to convert the process from a lab experiment into an industrial process.<\/p>\n This may require a system similar to fracking, where subterranean rock is fractured by injecting pressurised fluids. The freshly exposed rock surfaces will, when combined with water, react to create hydrogen.<\/p>\n Once that rock is depleted, rinse and repeat.<\/p>\n Catching the elusive light gas is another matter entirely.<\/p>\n But some mining start-ups see potential in such an industry.<\/p>\n Australia-based HyTerra has begun prospecting.<\/p>\n In Nebraska and Kansas \u2013 not Australia.<\/p>\n It reports having found some samples with hydrogen concentrations of up to 96 per cent. <\/p>\n However, Gold Hydrogen and Thor Energy have made a start Down Under \u2013 they\u2019ve been sniffing around South Australia.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is not a gold rush,\u201d Professor Sherwood Lollar told a Royal Society report<\/a> into natural hydrogen last year. <\/p>\n \u201cAs interest grows, we need to make sure evidence stays at the centre of the conversation. We need solid science, good data, and a realistic view of what\u2019s possible to make sure the hype doesn\u2019t run away with itself.\u201d<\/p>\n