U.S. Geological Survey geologist Geoffrey Ellis stands on Oct. 29 by a poster diplayed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks that explains how pure hydrogen can be pooled in underground formations. Ellis is the leading USGS expert on geologic hydrogen. He was a featured presenter at a three-day workshop on geologic hydrogen that was held at UAF. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
The key to decarbonization may be all around us.
Hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe , is in the ocean, in the sky, in the stars, in the bodies of living beings and – of particular importance to energy developers – in the ground.
And it is getting increasing attention globally.
Governments, industry and scientific institutions are now investigating how they might be able to switch from drilling for petroleum, which produces planet-warming carbon dioxide when burned, to drilling for zero-emissions hydrogen .
There are good reasons for that, said Geoffrey Ellis, the U.S. Geological Survey’s geologic hydrogen research leader.