Natural Hydrogen : Geological Formation, Accumulation, and Resource Potential for a Low Carbon Future

Natural hydrogen (H₂) holds significant promise as a clean and renewable energy source that helps achieve a net-zero carbon future. However, the study of natural hydrogen reservoirs (NHRs) remains in its early stages, limiting their exploration and development. This book provides a comprehensive review of NHRs, including their geological occurrence environments, formation mechanisms, enrichment processes, advanced exploration and production technologies, and influencing factors. Although high concentrations of natural hydrogen have been identified globally, only the Bourakebougou hydrogen field in Mali has reached commercial production.

This book outlines the current understanding of natural hydrogen systems, highlighting recent advancements, key challenges, and prospects for future energy supply. It provides a systematic examination of geological origin, accumulation, and preservation conditions of natural hydrogen, along with reservoir-forming processes, global distribution patterns, detection technologies, and future outlook.

To unlock the full potential of NHRs, continued progress in geological exploration, detection, and extraction technologies is essential, along with a deeper understanding of hydrogen genesis and trapping mechanisms. Future research should focus on improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen recovery, enhancing storage and transport solutions, and ensuring environmental and operational safety. Achieving a sustainable, hydrogen-powered future requires an interdisciplinary approach, integrating insights from geology, geoscience, engineering, and policy. This book aims to serve as a valuable reference for researchers, industry professionals, and decision-makers committed to advancing this emerging field of clean energy.

Yujie YUAN is a Lecturer and the Discipline Coordinator of the Chemical, Energy, and Resources Discipline in the School of Engineering at Edith Cowan University, Australia. She received Ph.D. degree in the Western Australian School of Mines at Curtin University, Western Australia. She served as Principal Chair of international conference (e.g., the Chief Committee Chair of the Intelligent Technology for Power and Energy Conference 2025 in Amsterdam, Netherlands), the Editorial Board Members for peer-reviewed journals (e.g., Advances in Geo-Energy Research, International Journal of Coal Science & Technology, Scientific Reports, Advanced Light Materials, etc), the Editor of books and special issues, the invited keynote speaker of conferences, and the invited honorary consultant and guest lecturer in academia and industry. Her research mainly includes low-carbon energy and storage (e.g., carbon storage, underground hydrogen storage, natural hydrogen, shale gas/oil), with over 60 journal articles and book chapters published in the past seven years. Several of her publications have been recognised as Highly Cited Papers by Web of Science.

Lai-Chang ZHANG is a Professor and the Head of the Centre for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing at Edith Cowan University. His research interests include metal additive manufacturing, metallic biomaterials, light alloys & structures, and high-strength alloys and composites. He is a Highly Cited Researcher (Clarivate) and an Advanced Materials Laureate (IAAM, Sweden), with approximately 410 journal articles, an H-index of 95 and more than 33000 citations. He serves as serves as Editor-in-Chief of Advanced Light Materials, Editor or Editorial Board Members for 10+ journals, e.g., International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, Advanced Powder Materials, Advanced Engineering Materials, Scientific Reports, Acta Metallurgica Sinica (English Letters), etc.

Zhuo FENG holds the title of Donglu Distinguished Professor at Yunnan University, China, where he serves as Director of both the Institute of Palaeontology and the Yunnan Key Laboratory of Earth System Sciences. He earned his Ph.D. from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was awarded the prestigious Chinese National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars. His research mainly focuses on plant evolution, plant–insect coevolution, and the development of terrestrial ecosystems. He has authored over 100 papers in high-impact interactional journals such as PNAS, Nature Communications, Science Advances, National Science Review, Current Biology, and Earth-Science Reviews.