Natural Hydrogen: A 'White Gold' Rush or Just Another Bloated Fish?

One Million Dollars!

Oh behave! Doctor Evil here reporting LIVE from my volcano lair! I've got my sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads ready to analyze this so called 'natural hydrogen' craze. Apparently some bigwigs are chasing this 'white gold' like it's the next Austin Powers! Mining giants energy majors... everyone's got a raging uh interest in what they call 'natural hydrogen.' It's like finding a hidden treasure except instead of gold doubloons it's just... hydrogen. Which let's face it isn't as shiny.

Sharks with Frickin' Laser Beams Demand Hydrogen!

This natural hydrogen or 'white,' 'gold,' or even 'geologic' hydrogen (geologic? Really? Sounds like something Austin Powers would say!) is supposedly found naturally beneath the Earth's surface. The best part? When burned it creates only water! Finally a way to flood the world without resorting to elaborate weather controlling devices! But here's the zinger: this stuff was discovered by accident 40 years ago! Forty years! Why wasn't I informed?! My sharks have been demanding a cleaner fuel source for their lasers for DECADES! I could have had this all along! CURSE YOU SCIENCE!

BP? Bill Gates? They're All In Baby!

Investor interest is intensifying fuelled by research startups and junior exploration companies. Over the past year or so some of the sector's established backers include mining giants Rio Tinto and Fortescue Russia's state owned energy giant Gazprom the venture capital arm of British oil giant BP and Bill Gates ' clean tech investment fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures . These so called 'clean energy' zealots think this could reshape the global energy landscape. Well I say any landscape can be reshaped with the right amount of lasers. However if Bill Gates is involved it could be a diabolical trap. Hmm a partnership might be in order...

The Elusive Gas: Hide and Seek Champion

Exploratory efforts are underway in places like Canada and the U.S. These countries are leading the way in project counts trying to locate this elusive gas. But not everyone's convinced oh no. Some critics are worried about the environmental concerns and the distribution challenges. The International Energy Agency even warned that it might be too scattered to be captured economically. Scattered? Like my plans to take over the world? Never! I need to call Number Two to find me a very large net just in case.

Is It Going To Work? I HAVE TO KNOW!

Minh Khoi Le from Rystad Energy says progress has been slow. Drilling campaigns extraction testing...it's all taking too long! I need this NOW! I have world domination to achieve! Rystad's Le characterized the global pursuit of natural hydrogen as a "white gold rush" last year. Now companies are starting to get investment so they have money to fund their drilling campaigns. So if we are to get an answer of whether this thing will work we'll get to that conclusion a bit faster this year." I am expecting results or heads will roll! (Evil laugh)

Decades? I Don't Have That Kind of Time!

Even if they find large deposits of hydrogen it could take decades to achieve industrial production! Decades! Do they know who I am? I haven't got time for that! I've got a world to threaten! This natural hydrogen pursuit risks distracting from the renewable hydrogen needed to decarbonize industries today! This is outrageous it's unfair! How can you be on the council of energy and not be a master of clean energy! Take a seat young hydrogen.