A study from InnoTech Alberta suggests the province has “exceptional potential” for natural hydrogen, sometimes called white or gold hydrogen. Unlike hydrogen produced from natural gas or through electrolysis, natural hydrogen occurs underground and can potentially be extracted directly from geological formations. The resource is still in the early stages of exploration. Commercial production is currently limited to a small operation in Mali.
Alberta has several advantages in developing this emerging resource. The province has favourable geology, an established energy industry, existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Alberta already produces about 60 percent of Canada’s hydrogen. Much of that is used in oil refining, bitumen upgrading, petrochemicals and fertilizer production. Researchers believe existing oil and gas wells and infrastructure could potentially be repurposed for natural hydrogen exploration and production. This would help reduce some of the costs of developing the resource.
Plenty of questions remain before natural hydrogen becomes a major energy source. Researchers need to better understand how to find, extract, store, transport and potentially export it. Global hydrogen demand is continuing to grow. Natural hydrogen could eventually become another lower-emission option alongside green and blue hydrogen. For Alberta, the research represents an opportunity to apply the province’s existing energy expertise to a very different kind of resource.
Read the complete article here –> https://energynow.ca/2026/06/study-finds-alberta-has-exceptional-potential-for-rare-natural-hydrogen/