France strikes JACKPOT, finds THIS precious element worth Rs 7868810600000; could make it global leader in…, the element is…
In a major discovery that could change the face of the global clean energy industry, France has reportedly found the world’s largest reserve of natural hydrogen, valued at around $92 billion (Rs 786,881 crore). According to a report by Interesting Engineering, French scientists discovered a massive reserve of natural hydrogen below the soil in Folschviller, a region in the Moselle department.
As per the report, scientists from the GeoRessources laboratory and CNRS stumbled upon this rare resource while looking for methane reserves. But instead of methane, they discovered a massive deposit, estimated to be 46 million tons, of naturally-occurring white hydrogen at a depth of 4,101 feet (1,250 meters).
A new revolution in clean energy industry?
The report noted that the remarkable discovery has the power to reshape the global energy market by providing a new source of carbon-free fuel, and also catapult France as the global leader in the clean energy sector.
As per scientists, France’s vast reserve of 46 million tons of natural hydrogen can substitute more than half of the world’s annual gray hydrogen production minus the environmental costs. The deposit is valued at around $92 billion, making it one of the biggest energy finds in history, the report said.
White hydrogen is a naturally-occurring element, making it an environment-friendly option, unlike renewable energy-dependent industrial production of green hydrogen or the polluting gray hydrogen which is made from fossil fuels. White hydrogen does not require energy-consuming processes for production, and can be accessed and utilized without any emissions, the report noted.
“Our research suggests that natural hydrogen could be far more abundant than previously thought. If we can find efficient ways to extract and use it, we may have a powerful new tool in the fight against climate change,” the report quoted Doctor Jacques Pironon, one of the scientist who worked on the study, as saying.
“We need to understand the full potential of these hydrogen reservoirs and develop safe, efficient methods to extract them,” he said.
France could become global leader in energy sector
Notably, the hydrogen industry has long been fighting two significant hurdles: the high expense of green hydrogen production and the environmental degradation caused by gray hydrogen. White hydrogen is the best way to solve both these issues. Because it already exists in the ground, it avoids the need for costly and energy-intensive electrolysis procedures and does not use fossil fuels, so it is a much cleaner, less expensive option, the report said.
Beyond its obvious impact on the global energy industry, the discovery is also expected to generate thousands of jobs, and stimulate the local economy in Lorraine area, traditionally known for its coal and steel production.
It would also provide a significant boost to France’s energy security, by allowing the country to decrease its dependence on imported fossil fuels, becoming a leading force in Europe’s clean energy shift, according to the report.
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