Hydrogen Geoscience at Berkeley Lab

Molecular hydrogen is expected to play multiple roles in a low-carbon future. Hydrogen can provide a large-scale energy storage solution, lower carbon emissions from energy-intensive industries, and provide new economic opportunities.

Reversible storage of hydrogen will increase the reliability of hydrogen energy and is necessary for seasonal energy storage. Presently only underground geologic formations provide storage opportunities at the necessary scale. We are identifying possible geologic storage sites in California, including depleted natural gas reservoirs, and working to understand how hydrogen interacts with rock in the Earth's subsurface. With partners, we are seeking to perform a field research study of geologic hydrogen storage, and developing novel tools needed to predict and monitor hydrogen underground.

The emerging hydrogen economy may influence with the Earth's water resources, atmospheric systems, and social landscape and we seek new partnerships to evaluate these interactions.

California geology contains rocks that react with water creating natural hydrogen — an exciting new possible resource that remains to be quantified.

Contact

geoH2@lbl.gov

Funding

Recent activities

The CSU Bakersfield - Berkeley Lab RENEW project launched Feb. 1, 2023 with the goal of training a new generation of Earth scientists capable of using subsurface systems to tackle energy, climate, and environmental challenges

The NSF Partnerships for International Research and Education project Four Networks for Geologic Hydrogen Storage launched Dec. 1, 2022 address critical scientific, environmental, and socioeconomic questions associated with the proposed development of geologic hydrogen storage in porous rock.

Talks and publications

Grad student Yarong Qi describes thermodynamic and kinetic constraints on microbial hydrogen consumption at the Stanford Geobiology Symposium April 12.

The University of Delft will host the 2nd annual Hydrogen Storage Summer School July 4-5, 2023.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) task force on Underground Hydrogen Storage released its first newsletter.

Projects and initiatives

Hydrogen geobiology

Microorganisms can transform hydrogen through metabolic processes likely used by the earliest life on Earth. Establishing the limits on hydrogen's microbial consumption will inform the economics of underground storage.

Monitoring subsurface hydrogen

Tracking the flow and fate of hydrogen in reservoirs is critical for secure geologic storage. Berkeley Lab geophysicists are developing new methods to image hydrogen in the subsurface.

Simulations of geologic hydrogen storage

Injection of hydrogen to and its withdrawal from geologic reservoirs involves coupled flow, reaction, and mechanical processes. We are developing new capabilities for LBNL's TOUGH suite of codes to simulate geologic hydrogen storage.

Hydrogen gas detection

Fiber-optical chemical sensing tailored for hydrogen could provide high-sensitivity, distributed monitoring of hydrogen for rapid leak detection and localization.

Hydrogen storage opportunities in California

California possesses hundreds of mapped geologic reservoirs that could be suitable for hydrogen storage. We commenced a state-wide evaluation and development of site- selection criteria.

Natural hydrogen in California

California geology includes rocks that can react with water to create natural hydrogen. These locations illustrate how hydrogen interacts with rocks, water, and ecosystems — and may one day provide commercially viable reserves.

Socio-economic opportunities and challenges

The Central Valley, CA, and the Groningen region, The Netherlands, are likely at different stages in the development of hydrogen economies and have diverse community needs and experiences that will be evaluated through novel engagement approaches.

Caprock security

Low-permeability rock layers can trap underground gases such as methane for millions of years. A CSU Bakersfield - LBNL partnership is training a new generation of geoscientists in modern methods to test the effectiveness of such caprock layers for hydrogen storage.

Hydrogen isotopic signatures

Hydrogen isotope ratios are sensitive to formation, transport and transformation so could provide insight into the sources of hydrogen in soils and the atmosphere

Partners

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