H2Au and 45-8 Energy will explore natural hydrogen deposits across the US as part of a new Joint Strategic Alliance.
The two firms will undertake the Humboldt Project in Kansas and the Fayette Project in Iowa, two areas which have shown promising signs of natural hydrogen. The Kansas sight previously showed hydrogen and helium of over 90% and 3%, respectively.
The consortium secured close to 10,000 acres in Kansas and Iowa back in January (2024) and expects to continue expanding that portfolio.
H2 View understands that 45-8 Energy holds more than 574,000 acres in exploration licenses and is currently developing “Europe’s first” helium production plant. H2Au has an “established portfolio potential of over 12 million acres across Africa and the US as it explores natural hydrogen.
Both projects have been developed and implemented based on a geological and commercial screening programme conducted by the two companies in 2023, and supported by the Natural Hydrogen Study Group (NHSG).
Each site will be operated by H2Au with a 60/40% H2Au/45-8 ENERGY working interest split in Project Humboldt and a 70/30% H2Au/45-8 ENERGY working interest split in Project Fayette.
“The Humboldt and Fayette projects demonstrate our commitment to developing a valuable and diverse portfolio of natural hydrogen resources to support the ever-evolving global energy needs,” explained Owain Jackson, CEO of H2Au.
“We believe that the era of natural hydrogen exploration and production is upon us and that working and learning together in this rapidly growing space provides strength and sustainability for the long term.”
Nicolas Pelissier, 45-8 Energy CEO, claimed the partnership with H2Au will demonstrate the “most extensive experience in the emerging natural hydrogen sector.”
He added, “Thanks to the coupling of our proprietary technologies, our respective databases and our experienced teams, I am convinced that the alliance is particularly well-prepared for a rapid and decisive development in the US.”
Last month (August), Canada’s Max Power Mining found natural hydrogen deposits of up to 96.4% underground in the Saskatchewan province. The company has since expanded its project by an additional 2,112 sq. km.
Read more: Max Power discovers 96.4% natural hydrogen in Canada
Analysis: Is natural hydrogen the next breakthrough or bust?
The next gold rush, a game-changer for decarbonisation and an underestimated resource: all terms used to describe natural hydrogen, which has grabbed an ever increasing number of headlines in recent months.
Formed by natural processes inside the Earth’s crust through processes such as serpentinisation and iron oxidation, natural hydrogen can accumulate in underground reservoirs. It has been coined as the climate solution under our feet and is capturing the minds of investors, entrepreneurs and policymakers alike, often touted as a low-cost, low-impact energy source.
While fossil fuel-based grey hydrogen costs less than $2/kg on average, many anticipate natural hydrogen costs, depending on deposit purity and depth, to be around $1/kg1.
Since 2021 a growing number of new natural hydrogen exploration ventures have been set up, but it has only been in recent months the natural energy carrier has received serious attention. Current exploration efforts are being undertaken in Australia, US, Spain, France, Albania, Colombia, South Korea and Canada.
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