US startup uses underground 'lightning' to crack rock and make hydrogen
Startup Eden GeoPower is testing a method to produce geologic hydrogen by using high-voltage electrical pulses to fracture underground rock. This technique aims to create pathways for water to react with iron-rich minerals to generate clean fuel.
Why it matters
Developing cost-effective, clean hydrogen production methods is critical for decarbonizing energy systems and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
What if the rocks beneath our feet could one day be turned into a giant hydrogen factory, not by drilling up an existing fuel reserve, but by sending controlled bursts of electricity deep underground? That is the idea being explored by Massachusetts-based startup Eden GeoPower. The company is using powerful high-voltage electrical pulses to fracture hard, tightly packed rock and create pathways that could allow water to reach minerals capable of naturally producing hydrogen through chemical reactions. The unusual approach, sometimes compared to creating tiny lightning strikes underground, could potentially open a new route for producing geologic hydrogen.
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