‘Gold hydrogen’ is a term coined to describe hydrogen found below the subsurface and hydrogen produced by bacteria in depleted oil wells. Recently, there has been a surge in interest surrounding gold hydrogen as a potential disruptive force in decarbonising many industries. This momentum is reflected in the recent announcement by the US Department of Energy, allocating $20mn to advance technologies stimulating hydrogen generation within the subsurface. While gold hydrogen exploration is in its early stages, this financial backing and the ongoing research signal a growing optimism about its role in achieving substantial decarbonisation.

• –  How big are the reserves, and where are they? Is gold hydrogen truly a renewable resource, or will it run out?
• –  What is the status and outlook of current gold hydrogen projects?
• –  What policy support will be needed for gold hydrogen to be on par with green hydrogen?