How White Hydrogen and Carbon Mineralization Could Decarbonize Industry
- Geological formations in Newfoundland, specifically the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex, are capable of producing low-cost "geologic" hydrogen and permanently sequestering carbon dioxide through a reaction called serpentinization.
- The production of geologic hydrogen is projected to cost significantly less than current renewable hydrogen, and the region's rock has a theoretical capacity for massive CO2 storage.
- Engineers are working to accelerate the natural serpentinization process by injecting CO2-enriched water to simultaneously dispose of industrial emissions and harvest the resulting hydrogen, while also yielding critical minerals.
In the remote geology of western Newfoundland, a specific formation of ancient oceanic crust is shifting from a subject of academic study to a target for industrial decarbonization. The region’s ophiolite belts, sections of Earth’s mantle pushed onto land, are drawing attention for their theoretical ability to produce low-cost hydrogen while permanently mineralizing carbon dioxide.
This geological convergence arrives as the energy sector seeks scalable alternatives to manufactured hydrogen. While "green" hydrogen produced via electrolysis remains expensive, creating a barrier to widespread adoption, naturally occurring or geologic hydrogen offers a potentially cheaper pathway.
The Economics of "Gold" Hydrogen
Industry data suggests that geologic hydrogen, often called "white hydrogen”, could be produced for between $0.50 and $1 per kilogram. This price point is significantly lower than current renewable hydrogen production costs, which often exceed $4 per kilogram.
The push to explore these formations coincides with a surging market for carbon management. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the global sector for carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is projected to reach $17.75 billion by 2030, up from an estimated $5.82 billion in 2025. This 25 percent compound annual growth rate is driven largely by government mandates and rising carbon prices that incentivize heavy industry to manage emissions.
The Mechanism: Serpentinization
The focus in Newfoundland centers on the Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex. Geologists regard this formation as one of the most complete sequences of ophiolites in the world. The rocks here are ultramafic, meaning they are rich in magnesium and iron but low in silica.
When these rocks encounter water, they undergo a chemical reaction known as serpentinization. The reaction oxidizes the iron in the rock, splitting water molecules to release hydrogen gas naturally. Crucially, the process also creates highly alkaline fluids that react aggressively with carbon dioxide. The CO2 is converted into solid carbonate minerals, effectively turning a greenhouse gas into stone.
Research conducted by Memorial University on the local Blow Me Down massif indicates that this process creates brucite, a mineral that facilitates rapid carbon sequestration. The study suggests that for every tonne of brucite formed, 0.63 metric tonnes of CO2 can be sequestered.
Industrializing a Natural Cycle
While serpentinization occurs naturally, it is a slow process. The current wave of exploration targets "stimulated" production. By drilling into these formations and injecting CO2-enriched water, engineers aim to accelerate the reaction. This method theoretically allows operators to dispose of industrial carbon emissions while harvesting the resulting hydrogen for energy.
Esti Ukar, a research associate professor at the Jackson School of Geosciences, suggests that engineering these natural hydrogen accumulations is the key to viability.
"Natural accumulations of geologic hydrogen are being found all over the world, but in most cases they are small and not economical, although exploration continues," Ukar said. "If we could help generate larger volumes of hydrogen from these rocks by driving reactions that would take several million years to happen in nature, I think geologic hydrogen could really be a game changer."
Capacity and Critical Minerals
The scale of the potential storage is significant. Peer-reviewed research on the Bay of Islands Complex calculated a theoretical total CO2 storage capacity of 5.1 x 10^11 tonnes. While practical constraints would limit the accessible volume, even a fraction of that capacity represents a massive carbon sink compared to Canada’s annual emissions.
Beyond energy and carbon, the chemistry of these rocks has implications for critical mineral supply chains. The highly reducing conditions required to generate hydrogen also favor the formation of awaruite, a rare nickel-iron alloy, and chromite. Explorers in the region have identified mineralized zones of chromite exceeding 700 meters in length within the Lewis Hills Massif.
Regulatory and Infrastructural Outlook
Despite the favorable geology, the sector faces hurdles common to emerging technologies. The International Energy Agency notes that while carbon capture project announcements are increasing, global deployment lags behind climate targets.
Policymakers are attempting to close this gap with financial instruments. Tax credits and grants are being established in North America and Europe to de-risk exploration. For hard-to-abate sectors such as steel manufacturing and cement production, where electrification is difficult, the prospect of mineral carbonation offers a distinct advantage: permanence. unlike gaseous storage in depleted oil wells, mineralized carbon cannot leak.
As engineering teams look to validate the Memorial University findings in the field, Newfoundland’s ophiolites may soon serve as a test case for whether the Earth’s crust can be engineered to function simultaneously as a fuel source and a waste repository.
By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com
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