I was completely unaware of the existence of deposits of natural hydrogen- seems rather counterintuitive. I guess the easiest way to use them would be for local electricity generation?
Electricity generation would be a massive waste - especially in nuclear-powered France. It is far more valuable as input for various industrial processes.
For example, the Haber-Bosch process requires hydrogen and nitrogen to produce ammonia, which is used as fertilizer. Traditionally the hydrogen is obtained from methane, but that emits a massive amount of CO2 - about 1% to 3% of all worldwide CO2 emissions. Feeding the process directly with hydrogen would be a gamechanger.
>Most hydrogen is likely inaccessible, but a few percent recovery would still supply all projected demand — 500mn tonnes a year — for hundreds of years
Most of it comes from a reaction between water and 'ultrabasic rocks' according to Wikipedia. It hasn't been searched for much as it occurs in different geology to natural gas and there hasn't been much demand till recently.
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For example, the Haber-Bosch process requires hydrogen and nitrogen to produce ammonia, which is used as fertilizer. Traditionally the hydrogen is obtained from methane, but that emits a massive amount of CO2 - about 1% to 3% of all worldwide CO2 emissions. Feeding the process directly with hydrogen would be a gamechanger.
>Most hydrogen is likely inaccessible, but a few percent recovery would still supply all projected demand — 500mn tonnes a year — for hundreds of years
Most of it comes from a reaction between water and 'ultrabasic rocks' according to Wikipedia. It hasn't been searched for much as it occurs in different geology to natural gas and there hasn't been much demand till recently.
Only half the yearly production, and yet we're nowhere near anything resembling widespread adoption of hydrogen.