US scientists have reportedly found a massive source of energy that could potentially offers thousands of years’ worth of energy. According to a report of The Cool Down, University of Nebraska experts claimed to have discovered a 1,200-mile-long Midcontinent Rift, formed when the North American continent nearly split, could hold a vast, untapped supply of natural hydrogen fuel buried up to 5,000 feet underground.
Hydrogen, a fuel that produces near-zero heat-trapping emissions when burned, is considered a potential replacement for dirtier energy sources. Current hydrogen production methods often rely on fossil fuels. However, the hydrogen found in the rift would be produced naturally, eliminating this issue.
A five-year-old test borehole in the rift is showing “promising” results, according to the researchers. This site offers unique geological characteristics suitable for hydrogen production, unlike other reserves located deep offshore or too far underground. Similar rifts worldwide could also hold potential, the team suggests. The Nebraska researchers are now studying the hydrogen store’s biochemical and microbiological aspects, and how to effectively store the fuel. They have received a $1 million government grant to support this research.
“Our understanding of processes governing the production, migration, and accumulation of evasive natural hydrogen in the continental deep subsurface is still in its infancy,” said Professor Seunghee Kim, a principal investigator.
The team hopes that if this natural hydrogen can be accessed affordably, it could become a significant energy source.
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