Geologist uncovers natural hydrogen deposit in Bavarian forest

Geologist Jürgen Grötsch, a former Shell researcher now at the University of Erlangen‑Nürnberg, reported finding unusually high concentrations of natural hydrogen in the soil of a forest in northern Bavaria. Using a gas sensor inserted into a one‑meter‑deep borehole, his team measured about 500 parts per million – roughly a thousand times the atmospheric level – a result he described as a potential "hydrogen jackpot" worth millions of euros.

The discovery adds to estimates by the U.S. Geological Survey that the Earth's crust holds around 5.6 trillion tonnes of natural (or "white") hydrogen, enough to meet humanity's demand for two centuries if even a small share can be accessed. So far, only one commercial site in Mali extracts such hydrogen for power generation. If viable extraction methods are developed, the Bavarian find could mark a new, low‑carbon source of energy, reducing reliance on hydrogen produced from fossil fuels.

While the economic and technical feasibility of exploiting the Bavarian deposit remains uncertain, the find highlights growing interest in naturally occurring hydrogen as a component of future clean‑energy strategies.