Dream Energy: White Hydrogen – The Future of Clean Energy Revolution, Part 1

(feat. Saudi Arabia, UAE, NEOM Project, Renewable, Green, Sustainable Energy, Clean Energy War; Oil, Fossil Fuels, Gas, Electricity)

1. Hydrogen is the Most Abundant Element in the Universe.

2. Around 75% of the Observable Matter in the Universe Consists of Hydrogen.

3. Hydrogen is a “Clean Fuel,” emitting no carbon while producing heat above 1,000°C.

4. Though Abundant and Environmentally Friendly, Hydrogen’s Lightweight Nature is a Challenge.

5. Because hydrogen is lighter than air, it doesn’t stay in Earth’s atmosphere and drifts away into space.

6. Hydrogen’s Abundance in Space (75%) is Vastly Different from Earth, Where It’s Only One Part per Million in the Atmosphere due to its tendency to escape.

7. On Earth, Hydrogen is Mostly Found Bound to Other Elements.

8. A prime example is water (H₂O), where hydrogen bonds with oxygen.

9. Hydrogen is categorised into three types based on production methods : by-product hydrogen, reformed hydrogen, and electrolysed hydrogen.

10. By-Product Hydrogen is a secondary output from industries like chemicals or steel-making.

11. Since by-product hydrogen is a process by-product, it’s cheap to produce but limited in volume.

12. When demand for hydrogen cars was low, this small by-product hydrogen supply was enough to cover fuel needs at affordable prices.

13. With Increasing Hydrogen Demand, Pure Hydrogen Production Methods are Becoming Essential due to the limited supply of by-product hydrogen.

14. Reformed Hydrogen is derived from fossil fuels like coal, oil, or natural gas.

15. Today, Most Hydrogen is Produced as Reformed Hydrogen.

16. Globally, 96% of Hydrogen Production Comes from By-Product and Reformed Hydrogen, Often Called “Gray Hydrogen” since it emits CO₂, making it less environmentally friendly.

17. Electrolyzed Hydrogen is produced by splitting water molecules using electricity.

18. Electrolysis Requires a Large Amount of Electricity.

19. Depending on how this electricity is generated, electrolyzed hydrogen is further classified.

20. Green Hydrogen is produced by using renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

21. Blue Hydrogen is made by capturing and storing the CO₂ released in gray hydrogen production, effectively balancing out CO₂ emissions.

22. Other hydrogen types exist, like Pink Hydrogen, which is created using nuclear energy.

23. The Ultimate Goal is to Transition to Green Hydrogen as the Most Sustainable Solution.

24. Saudi Arabia Has Ideal Solar Conditions, receiving between 5,700 and 6,700 Wh per square meter on average annually.

25. Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project, a $1 trillion investment, features The Line—a 1,640-foot-high (500 meters), 105 mile-long (170 kilometres) structure as its core.

26. The Line is also known as the “Mirror Line” due to its reflective walls.

27. These mirrored walls function as solar panels.

28. Saudi Arabia plans to export solar energy from its deserts and power The Line through a combination of solar and nuclear energy.

29. Hydrogen Plays a Central Role in Saudi Arabia’s Renewable Energy Strategy.

30. Saudi Arabia’s plan is to power The Line with solar and nuclear energy, using excess power to produce green hydrogen by electrolyzing seawater.

31. Gray Hydrogen Production Emits 10 Tons of CO₂ for Every Ton of Hydrogen created from natural gas.

32. This situation is like producing ten times more waste than usable product.

33. While hydrogen-powered vehicles emit only water, the current process to produce hydrogen leads to significant CO₂ emissions.

34. Electrolysis Using Renewable Power like solar or wind energy is essential to building a fully sustainable hydrogen ecosystem.

35. The Linear Design of the Mirror Line Maximizes Solar Efficiency by optimizing sun exposure.

36. Saudi Arabia aims to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen daily and 1.2 million tons of green ammonia annually, with plans to become the world’s largest hydrogen exporter.

37. Progress on The Line has been slow due to funding challenges and fluctuating oil prices, but the vision remains grand.

38. A Potential Game-Changer Emerged in Africa.

39. In 1987, a severe drought hit the village of Bourakebougou in Mali, West Africa.

40. To find water, drillers dug a borehole down to 108 meters.

41. During a break, one of the workers tried to light a cigarette near the borehole.

42. Unfortunately, escaping gas ignited, causing serious injuries to the worker.

43. Due to the explosion risk, the borehole was sealed, and drilling continued elsewhere.

44. In 2007 -20 years after the incident- Aliou Diallo, the chairman of the oil company Petroma, heard about the incident.

45. Diallo acquired nearby land, believing in its potential, and in 2012, hired the Canadian company Chapman Petroleum to investigate.

46. Upon reopening the borehole after 25 years, they discovered that 98% of the gas was hydrogen.

47. To test its feasibility, Diallo set up a Ford engine and a 300-kW generator, successfully supplying electricity to the village using hydrogen.

48. Diallo then rebranded his company as Hydroma, drilled 24 more boreholes, and identified five hydrogen reservoirs within a 780 km² area.

49. These reserves, located between 30-135 meters underground, yielded 5 million tons of hydrogen, which powered the village’s electricity for seven years.

50. In 2018, Hydroma Published Seven Years of Data on hydrogen production from natural underground sources in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.

51. Despite This, Hydroma’s Findings Didn’t Garner Much Attention.

52. The modest reserve size and unique geological factors meant it was dismissed as a one-off anomaly.

53. In May 2023, Hydrogen was Rediscovered in Northeastern France’s Lorraine Region.

54. During a methane gas survey in coal seams, drillers discovered 20% pure hydrogen at a depth of 4,101 feet (1,250 meters).

55. The purity level increased as they drilled deeper, leading to estimates of 90% purity at 3,000 meters.

56. Estimates for Lorraine’s Hydrogen Reserves range around 46 million tons, possibly reaching up to 150 million tons.

57. This discovery sparked renewed interest in “white hydrogen,” or the “dream hydrogen,” with widespread media coverage and research.

58. While 2023 saw rising excitement around white hydrogen, early investors had quietly been funding it since Hydroma’s 2018 publication.

To be continued in Part 2.