Natural hydrogen webinars.
The H₂ that springs from the ground.
Natural hydrogen — also called white or native hydrogen — is continuously produced underground by geological reactions. Unlike green hydrogen (electrolysis) or grey hydrogen (steam reforming), it requires no manufacturing energy. Recent discoveries in France are reviving interest in this potentially low-carbon, low-cost resource.
Why attend a webinar on this topic?
In 2023, researchers at the University of Lorraine identified a potentially major natural hydrogen deposit near Folschviller, in Moselle (France). Other indications are emerging in the Pyrenees and around the world (Mali, USA, Australia). This resource disrupts the usual hydrogen narrative: if proven exploitable at scale, its production cost could be far below that of green hydrogen. But many unknowns remain — flow rates, purity, flux sustainability, regulatory framework. A dedicated webinar gives access to the researchers and explorers working in the field, away from the media noise.
Topics typically covered
- 01Formation mechanisms: serpentinization, water radiolysis
- 02The Lorraine deposit (Folschviller): what we actually know
- 03Exploration and drilling: methods, surface indices, measurements
- 04Natural vs green vs grey hydrogen: cost and footprint comparison
- 05French regulatory framework: mining code and exploration permits
- 06Global projects: Mali, USA, Australia, Spain
Who are these webinars for?
These webinars are for geologists and mining engineers, geoscience researchers, utility exploration teams, emerging-resource investors, public decision-makers and local authorities involved in permits, specialized journalists and students. The format favors scientific rigor and field data over speculative announcements.
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Frequently asked questions
What exactly is natural hydrogen?+
Natural hydrogen (or white, or native) is dihydrogen (H₂) that forms spontaneously underground, mainly through two mechanisms: serpentinization (reaction of water with iron-rich rocks) and radiolysis (decomposition of water by natural radioactivity). It is a primary resource, unlike green or grey hydrogen which are industrially manufactured.
Where was natural hydrogen discovered in France?+
The most publicized site is near Folschviller, in Moselle (Lorraine), where researchers from the University of Lorraine and the GéoRessources laboratory estimated in 2023 a potentially very large deposit several hundred meters deep. Indications also exist in the Pyrenees and are being explored.
Is natural hydrogen cheaper than green hydrogen?+
Potentially yes, because it doesn't require manufacturing energy (electrolysis consumes a lot of electricity). If flow rates and purity hold up, extraction cost could be significantly lower. But this is still largely theoretical: no deposit is commercially exploited at scale in 2026, except the pioneering case of Bourakébougou in Mali.
Is it a renewable resource?+
This is debated. Natural hydrogen forms continuously on a geological timescale, which makes it akin to a renewable resource if the extraction rate stays below the natural production rate. But this depends heavily on each deposit's geological context — hence the importance of flow rate and flux sustainability studies.
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