China reports record 98.24% hydrogen purity in Sichuan Basin
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Chinese scientists measured hydrogen purity of 97.33% to 98.24% in the Sichuan Basin, the highest ever recorded in China. The discovery positions China among the few countries with natural hydrogen exceeding 98% purity. The Philippines is also attracting interest from billionaire-backed Koloma for its extensive hydrogen seeps.
Key Facts
- Hydrogen samples from China's Sichuan Basin measured 97.33% to 98.24% purity, the highest ever recorded in China.
- The U.S. Department of Energy estimated trillions of metric tons of natural hydrogen deposits exist underground worldwide.
- Koloma CEO Pete Johnson said the Philippines has the largest natural hydrogen seeps on the planet.
- Recent modeling estimates underground natural hydrogen reserves could total approximately 5.6 x 10^6 metric megatons.
- Extracting just 2% of that volume would yield twice the energy found in all proven global natural gas reserves.
Sichuan Basin Discovery
A new study from China reported record-breaking hydrogen seepage in the Sichuan Basin. Samples taken from the area had hydrogen purity levels ranging between 97.33 percent and 98.24 percent, the highest ever recorded in China. The researchers stated this broke the record for natural hydrogen concentration in China and became one of the few discoveries globally exceeding 98.00% purity.
Philippines Potential
Private interests are starting to swarm around hydrogen seeps in the Philippines. Billionaire-backed energy startup Koloma believes the Southeast Asian nation could be ground zero for a geologic hydrogen revolution. Koloma CEO Pete Johnson told Forbes the Philippines has the largest natural hydrogen seeps anywhere on the planet and that these seeps are likely connected to very large accumulations.
Global Reserves and Impact
Recent modeling estimates underground natural hydrogen reserves could total approximately 5.6 x 10^6 metric megatons. If the energy industry can extract just 2% of that total volume, it would yield twice the energy found in all proven global natural gas reserves. Such a development would transform the geopolitics of the global energy industry, granting enormous leverage to nations sitting atop these deposits. Geologic hydrogen could supercharge global decarbonization because it burns cleanly, leaving only water vapor, unlike fossil-fuel-based hydrogen.
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China reports record 98.24% hydrogen purity in Sichuan Basin
