The U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) aimed at exploring naturally occurring geologic hydrogen resources.
The purpose of this initiative is to gather insights on innovative approaches for identifying and evaluating subsurface hydrogen, a potential clean energy source that could support the global energy transition.
ARPA-E’s RFI focuses on two main goals: (1) discovering and assessing natural hydrogen accumulations in the Earth’s crust, and (2) developing reliable methods for determining the recoverable hydrogen reserves from these sources. Geologic hydrogen, often produced through natural processes like serpentinization and radiolysis, has recently attracted interest due to its potential to offer a low-emission, economically viable alternative to industrially produced hydrogen.
ARPA-E seeks input from researchers, companies, and other stakeholders on advanced technologies and methods for hydrogen exploration. The RFI highlights the need for specific technological advances, including:
- Exploration Strategies: Developing new techniques for locating and characterizing hydrogen resources, moving beyond methods traditionally used for oil, gas, and mining.
- Subsurface Geophysical Exploration: Improving imaging and sensing technologies to detect hydrogen-rich formations accurately.
- Environmental Impact Management: Identifying ways to minimize the ecological footprint of hydrogen exploration and extraction, particularly in sensitive environments.
Responses to the RFI are due by December 2, 2024, and are intended to help shape a potential ARPA-E program dedicated to advancing geologic hydrogen exploration and resource management.
