Last week, we reported that a gigantic white hydrogen bubble had been found, presumably extending across the subsurface beneath France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium. There would be an estimated 34 million tons of soil, equivalent to 14 years of Belgium’s electricity consumption.
Natural hydrogen fields are rare but highly useful to the industry. Scientists suspect that hydrogen is linked to the old coal basins. That would mean that the hydrogen cloud might well extend from Wallonia into Limburg.
That is why the federal government is launching an investigation into the presence of white hydrogen in Belgian soil, near the French border. Minister of Climate and Ecological Transition Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés) has, therefore, proposed to his government colleagues to release the necessary funds for the launch of a national exploration program.
‘Game changer’
“Belgium may have white gold beneath its feet,” the Minister said. “Should the substance also be found in Belgian soil, that would be a game changer.”
“The intention is to deploy the necessary resources to map the potential of the subsurface, identify promising areas, and lay the foundation for future exploitation,” the Minister explains.
For this first phase, entrusted to the Geological Survey of Belgium, a budget of 1.5 million euros is being allocated, with an expected evaluation within 2 years.
Research
It is uncertain whether and when white hydrogen can effectively be extracted from the Belgian subsurface. It is particularly important that the government now takes the risk of mapping its presence.
Subsequently, private companies will have to take responsibility for the exploitation. The Minister is counting on European support for the next phases of the research.
Starting from scratch
Professor of Geology Manuel Sintubin (KU Leuven) immediately tempers high expectations. “Based on our current knowledge of the soil, the Belgian Geological Survey will be able to predict where those processes potentially take place,” says Sintubin.
“But to really know, you have to carry out a large number of prospecting boreholes, and that easily takes another ten years. We have to be realistic: we really have to start from scratch.”
Nevertheless, Minister Crucke remains enthusiastic. “The industry has an enormous need for affordable energy. If we can extract white hydrogen from the ground ourselves, we can be much more competitive. Energy in China will still be cheaper, but the difference will be much smaller.”
