Natural Hydrogen Found in Canadian Shield Offers New Clean Energy Prospect

University of Toronto geochemist Barbara Sherwood Lollar led an international team that measured natural, or “white,” hydrogen seeping from billion‑year‑old rocks in the Canadian Shield near Timmins, Ontario. Boreholes drilled into the rock release an average of 0.008 tonnes of hydrogen per year; with nearly 15,000 boreholes the site could produce more than 140 tonnes annually – enough to generate about 4.7 million kilowatt‑hours, enough to power over 400 homes.

The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also cite similar hydrogen releases in ancient rock formations in South Africa and Scandinavia, suggesting the phenomenon may be widespread. Sherwood Lollar said, "The data from this study suggests there are critical untapped opportunities to access a domestic source of cost‑effective energy produced from the rocks beneath our feet," adding that it provides a "made in Canada" resource that could reduce reliance on imported hydrocarbon fuels. The discovery opens a new avenue for clean‑energy production and could reshape future hydrogen‑supply strategies worldwide.