Fluid-Rock Interactions for Environmental Sustainability

Molecular hydrogen has already been demonstrated to be a viable source of clean fuel that is carbon-free, with water as the only byproduct when combusted.

However, traditional methods of hydrogen production such as steam reforming are energy intensive and not viable as a mechanism for addressing demand on a global scale.

Recent studies have demonstrated the occurrence of substantial amounts of molecular hydrogen produced naturally by fluid-rock interactions such as serpentinization, at a depth of few kms to several tens of kms in the Earth's subsurface and if these reserves were to be exploited, they would alleviate at least a substantial fraction of the demand for carbon-free fuel globally.

Through the proposed research, we aim to integrate petrographic and microstructural observations from a suite of representative rocks from the Isle of Skye Volcanic Complex and the Shetland Ophiolites in the United Kingdom, with reactive transport and microstructural models to determine if fluid-rock interactions that produce hydrogen in the subsurface can be engineered to occur at near-surface conditions.

Additionally, rocks which produce hydrogen are compositionally similar to rocks that have been used to sequester carbon dioxide and our proposed research aims to conduct an in-depth investigation into the potential coupling of these processes, to determine if hydrogen production and carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere can be engineered to run concurrently.

Finally, we aim to assess any potential risks associated with hydrogen production from water-rock reactions, as these induce profound transformations in the physical properties (such as volume) of rocks, which may have the potential to generate natural disasters such as earthquakes.

The results from our proposed project would have extremely important implications for the much-needed energy transition and demonstrate the viability of ongoing geological processes for generating carbon-free sources of fuel.