Could mountains hold the secret to using hydrogen?

Scientists studied how the Alps, Pyrenees and Baetic mountains were made to see if they created hydrogen gas.

Published 24 June 2026 279 words
SCIENCE B1
Could mountains hold the secret to using hydrogen?

Hydrogen gas is expected to be very important in stopping the use of fossil fuels. This is especially true for industries that are difficult to make cleaner, like making chemicals, shipping goods, and producing steel. However, making hydrogen in a lab takes a lot of energy and money. For hydrogen to become widely used, we need to find natural and dependable sources of this gas. Could it be hidden in mountains?

Scientists used computer models that show how Earth's plates move. They studied the Pyrenees, Alps, and Baetic mountain ranges. They wanted to see if the processes that formed these mountains could have created and stored hydrogen gas. Their study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, found that the Alps and Pyrenees could be good places to search for natural hydrogen.

The models suggested that mountain building brought rocks from deep inside the Earth to the surface. These rocks reacted with water, releasing hydrogen. This gas then collected in layers of rock with small holes above. In contrast, the Baetic mountains in southern Spain had faster uplift and erosion. This means there probably wasn't enough time to produce large amounts of hydrogen, and the rocks that could store it were likely removed.

Scientists can now use these methods to study other mountain ranges. This could help find more potential sources of natural hydrogen, which is a cleaner energy source for the future.

Vocabulary

fossil fuels — Gases like oil, coal, and natural gas that come from plants and animals that died long ago.
industries — Businesses that produce goods or services.
decarbonise — To reduce or remove carbon dioxide from something, making it less harmful to the environment.
synthetic — Made artificially, not found naturally.
plate tectonic — The scientific theory that explains the movement of large pieces of the Earth's outer shell (plates).
accumulated — Collected or gathered over time.
porous — Having small holes that allow water or air to pass through.
uplift — The process of the Earth's surface being pushed upwards.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why is hydrogen gas considered important for the future of energy?
  2. How did the formation of the Alps and Pyrenees mountains help create hydrogen gas?
  3. Why are the Baetic mountains considered less likely to be a good source of natural hydrogen?

Based on an article from The Guardian.

Read the original article