Summary

based on a joint press release from

• acatech – German Academy of Science and Engineering
• Leopoldina – German National Academy of Sciences
• Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities

Natural or ‘white’ hydrogen, which could be extracted in the same way as natural gas, is raising hopes as a potential low-carbon energy source. But: how much hydrogen is stored in the Earth? How can deposits be located and extracted? And what economic use cases would result from this? These questions are explored in the discussion paper “Geological Hydrogen – an Underestimated Energy Source?”, published today by ESYS – Energy Systems of the Future, a joint initiative of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities (acatech, Leopoldina and the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities).

One of the co-authors is Dr Frank Zwaan, who conducted research at the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences from 2022-2025 with a “Discovery Fellowship” into the geological conditions governing the formation and development of potential deposits of natural hydrogen. He is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) and is a visiting researcher at the GFZ in Section 2.5 “Geodynamic Modelling”.

The authors demonstrate that there are still many unanswered questions on the potential of natural hydrogen and a significant need for further research. Under favourable conditions, natural hydrogen could potentially contribute to the energy transition at a local level.

Key points of the paper are summarised in a factsheet:

• It is still unclear whether and to what extent exploitable and economically viable deposits of natural hydrogen exist
• Natural ‘white’ hydrogen is potentially cheaper than ‘green’ hydrogen, but is more of a complement than a game-changer on a large scale
• Local and decentralised applications appear to be the most promising
• What is needed: clear legal regulations for exploration and potential extraction, as well as targeted research funding

The ESYS policy paper is available at:

https://energiesysteme-zukunft.de/en/publikationen/stellungnahme/geological-hydrogen

As part of the online section of the Berlin Energy Days 2026, an online panel will take place today, Wednesday 15 April, from 14:00 to 15:30, during which the ESYS policy brief will be presented and discussed. 

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required.

About the Academies

The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, acatech – German Academy of Science and Engineering, and the Union of German Academies of Sciences and Humanities provide independent, science-based support to policymakers and society in addressing future-oriented questions on current topics. The academy members and other experts are renowned scientists from Germany and abroad.

About the ESYS – Energy Systems of the Future initiative

acatech has taken the lead on the joint ESYS – Energy Systems of the Future initiative. Within the initiative, more than 130 energy experts from science and research are working in interdisciplinary working groups to develop ideas and options for action to implement a secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply.

The publications of the Academy initiative are approved by the ESYS Executive Board and published by the science academies in the series on science-based policy advice or in the series “Energy Systems of the Future”.

Original publication

Erlach, Berit/Borgmann, Miriam/Achtziger-Zupančič, Peter/Fischedick, Manfred/Klitzke, Peter/Pittel, Karen/Renn, Jürgen/Zwaan, Frank: “Geological hydrogen – an underestimated energy source?” (Impuls), “Energy Systems of the Future” (ESYS) series, 2026, DOI: https://doi.org/10.48669/esys_202