Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.
For decades, the world has been searching for the next big thing in energy production. The consensus among experts is that the oil sector will slowly be phased out and replaced by the world of renewable energy that has encompassed the globe. Solar and wind have gotten us this far, but is it far enough?
How could hydrogen on its own power humanity for thousands of years?
How we are leaving the oil industry in our rear view mirrors
There can be no denying that our reliance on the oil sector is coming to an end in the near future.
According to the Sustainability Directory, investments in clean energy now sit at a staggering 10-1 ratio. Over the last two years, capital spending on renewable energy hit $2 trillion, far outperforming the conventional oil and gas sectors.
In 2023, clean energy subsectors accounted for approximately 10% of global GDP growth.
The clean energy sector has even made its way to our everyday cars. By the end of last year, nearly 30% of all new car sales around the world were Electric Vehicles. But what about the most overlooked energy resource in the world, hydrogen?
Hydrogen power: a stagnating industry or the path towards decarbonization
The hydrogen sector has faced a tough few years as of late. At first, the hype around the natural resource was huge, but as time progressed, the reality of how much money would need to be invested in the hydrogen sector became an all too expensive realization.
Recent innovations in solar panel technology have catapulted the solar industry into the dominant force among a world of clean energy options.
With climate change rearing its ugly head on a more consistent basis, decarbonizing the international energy industry has become a top priority for the vast majority of nations.
Living a simple life disconnected from the grid is a challenge that more and more of us are prepared to undertake.
As some of us opt for the already established output capacity of solar and wind, hydrogen may be an actual alternative, especially considering the latest findings made by the University of Oxford.
An accidental find that could power our future for generations
A team of researchers from the University of Oxford, Durham University, and the University of Toronto recently made a remarkable discovery in the groundwater found in rocks at the Canadian Shield.
The scientists found enough hydrogen to power the world for an astonishing 170,000 years.
They managed this discovery by analyzing centuries-old groundwater deep in the Earth’s crust. A main challenge for the hydrogen-minded is to extract hydrogen deep beneath us, as the underground microbes often consume the hydrogen before it can form into gas.
The solar panel industry has had enough time to develop into a large-scale alternative energy industry.
Solar panels on rooftops are becoming a regular feature on most of our homes. But hydrogen is tricky to extract and refine into energy. So challenging in fact that some nations see it as a passing trend.
The new findings of hydrogen reserves in Canada could reshape the industry
Through studying the chemical features of the groundwater in the rocks, the team has laid a foundation for similar findings in hydrogen-rich environments over the coming years. They can do this by mapping specific geological and geochemical conditions that are necessary for hydrogen accumulation.
The hydrogen sector is only now starting to flex its muscles. The NEOM green city in Saudi Arabia will become the first city in the world powered entirely by hydrogen. The dream of living a life without the need to rely on traditional energy is becoming a little easier to reach.
Would you welcome a major energy transition to the hydrogen sector to power your home?