The Catalyst Review January 2025 - 8

SPECIAL FEATURE
to hydrogen's unique physical
properties. Hydrogen, as the smallest
molecule with low volumetric
density at ambient conditions,
presents substantial challenges for
economically feasible storage and
transport. Consequently, even if native
hydrogen emerges as an abundant and
low-cost source of low-carbon energy,
its storage and transport must be safe
and economically viable. Presently,
the limited development of largescale
underground hydrogen storage
facilities and the scarcity of land. and
maritime transport options represent
potential barriers.7,8 Therefore, to
achieve economic viability for native
hydrogen, it will be essential to focus
not solely on production technologies
and costs, but on optimizing the entire
hydrogen value chain.
Figure 3. Approximate cost components of different hydrogen production methods.6
References
[1] AGA. Natural hydrogen has been underestimated. 2023. https://www.aga.org/natural-hydrogen-has-been-underestimated/.
[2] Hydrogen Insight. 'There is enough natural hydrogen underground to meet all demand for hundreds of years', says US government agency.
2024. https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/innovation/there-is-enough-natural-hydrogen-underground-to-meet-all-demand-for-hundreds-of-yearssays-us-government-agency/2-1-1600507.
[3]
Hydrogen Science Coalition. Everything you need to know about natural or geologic hydrogen. 2024. https://h2sciencecoalition.com/blog/
everything-you-need-to-know-about-natural-or-geologic-hydrogen/.
[4] Maiga, Omar, et al. Characterization of the spontaneously recharging natural hydrogen reservoirs of Bourakébougou in Mali, Scientific Reports,
2023. 13 (11876), 1-13.
[5] Ozcan, Hasan, El-Emam, Rami, and Harriri, Bahman. Thermochemical looping technologies for clean hydrogen production - Current status
and recent advances, Journal of Cleaner Production, 2022. 382 (135295), 1-14.
[6] Patonia, Aliaksei, Lambert, Martin, Lin, Ning, and Shuster, Mark. Natural (geologic) hydrogen and its potential role in a net-zero carbon future:
Is all that glitters gold? Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. 2024.
[7] Patonia, Aliaksei and Poudineh, Rahmatallah. Global trade of hydrogen: what is the best way to transfer hydrogen over long distances? Oxford
Institute for Energy Studies. 2022.
[8] Patonia, Aliaksei and Poudineh, Rahmatallah. Hydrogen storage for a net-zero carbon future. Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. 2023.
[9] Zgonnik, Vyacheslav. The occurrence and geoscience of natural hydrogen: A comprehensive review. Earth-Science Reviews, 2020. 203 (1), 1-51.
Author
Aliaksei Patonia is a Research Fellow in commercial hydrogen development at the Oxford
Institute for Energy Studies (OIES). His work focuses on creating objective and realistic insights
into the challenges and opportunities of the clean hydrogen value chain. Aliaksei joined OIES in
2019 to study ammonia as a storage solution for decarbonized energy systems. His later research
expanded to power-to-X technologies, hydrogen storage, transportation, and end-use applications.
Beyond OIES, Alex has collaborated with international organizations, research institutions, and think
tanks, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the Helmholtz Association,
the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and the European Roundtable on Climate Change
and Sustainable Transition. His commentaries and op-eds have appeared in Der Tagesspiegel, the
Brussels Times, the Diplomat, EU Observer, Geopolitical Monitor, Natural Gas World, Apolitical, and
Petroleum Review of the Energy Institute.
He can be reached at aliaksei.patonia@oxfordenergy.org
8
The Catalyst Review
January 2025

The Catalyst Review January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Catalyst Review January 2025