Natural hydrogen will play a significant role in Australia’s shift towards a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

Natural hydrogen (also called white or gold hydrogen) represents a groundbreaking shift in our approach to a sustainable future. Unlike hydrogen produced from industrial processes or fossil fuels, this hydrogen is generated through purely natural processes and is a clean, carbon-free and dense energy source.

Not only is natural hydrogen clean, but it is also renewable, always being made afresh due to underground chemical processes found in a wide variety of geological environments.

Australia’s geological landscape, characterized by ancient formations and suitable hydrogen traps, makes it a leading prospect for geological hydrogen.  

This potential is further underscored by the recent drilling of Ramsey-1, initiated by Gold Hydrogen on the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia in 2023. Australia’s first-ever hydrogen exploration well detected “significant concentrations” of up to 73.3% hydrogen.

Palynology in Hydrogen Exploration

Palynology is crucial in the exploration of natural hydrogen, playing a vital role via:

  • Age dating of sediments;
  • Well-to-well correlations;
  • Providing the foundation for detailed and reliable geological models.

Palynological analysis can also help guide drilling decisions and minimise exploration risk, similar to its role in oil and gas exploration.

For more information on how MGPalaeo can help your exploration program, please Contact Us.

Useful Resources

Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy was released in 2019 (and reviewed in 2023) and sets a vision for a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians. For more information on this strategy, or on Australia’s hydrogen industry and the government’s actions and initiatives, please visit the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Environment.

For detailed information on Geoscience Australia’s projects and initiatives in hydrogen exploration, visit their dedicated page on hydrogen resources: Geoscience Australia – Hydrogen​​​​.