Impact
Unlocking vast, naturally occurring reserves already beneath our feet.
At Snowfox Discovery, we believe the path to a net zero future lies not in manufacturing hydrogen — but in unlocking the vast, naturally occurring reserves already beneath our feet.
Today, the global push for clean hydrogen is dominated by cost-intensive manufacturing processes, including electrolysis powered by solar PV. Natural hydrogen offers a radically more efficient and sustainable alternative — one that could transform the economics and emissions profile of the entire hydrogen sector.
If just half of future hydrogen demand were to switch from solar PV-based green hydrogen to naturally sourced hydrogen from 2030 onwards, the world could avoid 13 gigatonnes of CO₂ emissions by 2050. That’s the equivalent of over one third of today’s total annual global CO₂ output.
By advancing the science and technology to discover and harness this natural resource, Snowfox Discovery is working to unlock a breakthrough solution — one that reduces environmental impact, accelerates decarbonisation, and brings the world closer to its net zero goals.
We’re not just imagining a cleaner future. We’re helping deliver it.
Natural hydrogen has the potential to be the least carbon-intensive source of hydrogen.
Due to the way natural hydrogen is generated and will be produced, its carbon emissions are expected to be consistently low when compared to other production technologies.
Generated by carbon-free geochemical processes deep within the Earth’s crust.- Accumulates underground and is accessed using conventional drilling techniques.
- There may be enough natural hydrogen to supply the world’s needs for thousands of years.
Sources: Kanz etal., 2021; National Energy TechnologyLaboratory, 2022; Brandt, 2023
To reach net zero by 2050, the IEA forecasts a five-fold increase in hydrogen demand.
Hydrogen use is envisaged for growing industrial demand, transport, fuel and power as a means to decarbonise and reach net zero.
- Initially, natural hydrogen could replace current industrial uses.
- This is followed by other ‘hard to abate’ industries such as steelmaking, off-road vehicles, shipping and aviation.
- Once hydrogen is more widespread, it has the potential to be adopted in an increasing range of uses.
Sources: IEAGlobal Hydrogen Review
Natural hydrogen will be the lowest cost low carbon method of hydrogen production.
Natural hydrogen production uses established technologies. This means it will compete on cost with current methods of manufacturing hydrogen.
- Natural hydrogen is cheaper to produce than green hydrogen is to manufacture.
- Compared to grey hydrogen, natural hydrogen is cost competitive in the medium term, and significantly less carbon-intensive.
- Commercially viable natural hydrogen discoveries could therefore lead to rapid adoption.
Sources: Snowfox internal modelling, Hydrogen Council Decarbonisation Pathways; McKinseyHydrogen Insights; Collins and Schomacker, 2022. *Grey hydrogen optimal and average projection including carbon costs.
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Working towards net zero.
Snowfox's work in this area gives us confidence that natural hydrogen has the potential to be the least carbon-intensive source of hydrogen. Due to the way natural hydrogen is generated and will be produced, its carbon emissions are expected to be consistently low when compared to other manufacturing routes.
Backed by world-leading investors and institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Natural hydrogen is generated in the continental crust when water reacts with common iron-rich volcanic rocks, forming iron oxide and hydrogen. Natural hydrogen is also formed when radioactive elements contained within rocks emit radiation that splits a water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen. The rocks react with the oxygen leaving hydrogen. Both processes can build up significant amounts of hydrogen on geological timescales.
Different geological combinations that generate and accumulate natural hydrogen can be found globally. Snowfox understands the processes that control these features and is identifying the most likely places to discover economically significant hydrogen resources.
It is only in the last decade that the amount of hydrogen generated by the Earth’s continents was realised. With awareness of society’s need to decarbonise, interest in naturally occurring hydrogen has increased. A hydrogen gas field discovered in Mali in 1987 has recently been developed to supply local power needs, demonstrating that natural hydrogen resources are a reality.
Snowfox modelling tells us so. Natural hydrogen production uses established technologies. It is projected to cost significantly less than hydrogen manufactured by electrolysis using wind or solar (green) hydrogen. Natural hydrogen competes on price with carbon-intensive ‘grey’ hydrogen, which is the predominant method of manufacture today.
Estimates vary substantially because we are still in the early stages of exploration. Snowfox expects only a fraction of the hydrogen generated in the continents to be trapped and preserved. However, because so much has been generated, even a small fraction will be enough to mitigate the current use of carbon-intensive 'grey' hydrogen.
Hydrogen behaves in a similar way to other gases. Once it has been generated in the Earth's crust, it rises towards the surface. Along the way it may become trapped by an impermeable layer of rock and accumulate underground, forming a gas field. It is accessed by drilling and produced from wells.
Yes. Modelling shows that natural hydrogen has the potential to have the lowest carbon intensity. This is because there is no need to manufacture the hydrogen by the chemical reactions required in ‘grey’ or ‘green’ hydrogen. Processes forming natural hydrogen in the Earth’s crust generate zero carbon. Natural hydrogen’s low emissions mostly come from the associated equipment and processes used to extract the hydrogen from the ground.
Today, hydrogen is a U$170bn industry, producing 95 million tonnes used per year. It is a vital, irreplaceable chemical feedstock for ammonia, methanol and in metal refining. Fertiliser produced from the ammonia contributes to feeding half of the global population. Tomorrow's hydrogen demand will significantly expand with an increased range of uses including as a clean-burning fuel.
