Unlocking the Power of Natural Hydrogen

Why does natural hydrogen matter?
Natural hydrogen could transform the economics of clean energy if we can unlock it. Most hydrogen today is either fossil-fuel dependent (‘grey’ hydrogen) or too expensive and small scale to produce (‘green’ hydrogen). Natural hydrogen, formed underground through geological processes, offers a clean, low-cost alternative. Trapped in rock formations, it’s abundant, renewable and largely untapped. For industrial users, natural hydrogen shifts the economics, enabling use cases once deemed commercially unviable.

How do we extract natural hydrogen?

Decahydron combines deep expertise in fluid-rock interactions with proprietary induced generation techniques to access this trapped hydrogen without water use or fossil fuels. Our IP-backed approach enhances hydrogen yield per well and offers a materially lower CAPEX profile.

1. Hydrogen is naturally generated underground

Deep beneath the surface, ultramafic rocks rich in iron minerals like olivine react with infiltrating water in a process called serpentinization. This reaction oxidizes iron, splitting water molecules and naturally producing molecular hydrogen (H₂) over geological timescales.

2. Hydrogen becomes trapped in the rock

The hydrogen migrates and accumulates within fractures and pore spaces in the rock, becoming geologically trapped.

3. Super-saturated CO₂ is injected to release the hydrogen

Decahydron’s induced generation technique involves injecting supercritical CO₂ into these formations. This displaces the trapped hydrogen, pushing it toward production wells where it can be captured at the surface for purification and use.

4. CO₂ reacts with the rock and becomes stone

The injected CO₂ doesn’t come back up. Instead, it reacts with magnesium and calcium in the rock to form solid carbonate minerals, a process called mineral carbonation. This permanently locks the CO₂ away as stone, delivering safe, durable carbon removal.

How much natural hydrogen can be extracted?

This varies, but each cubic metre of ultramafic rock can absorb up to 1 tonne of CO₂ while producing up to 20 kg of hydrogen. Our first test wells in the UAE alone may contain reserves over 100 million tonnes of hydrogen, with production costs projected at under $1 per kilogram. That compares to a cost of up to $15/kg for ‘green’ hydrogen today.

Where can natural hydrogen be found?

Ultramafic rocks are found abundantly worldwide, Decahydron has begun its work in the Arabian peninsula, which contains large and easily accessible formations. Here we find ultramafic rock close to high CO2-emmitting industries like power plants, steel mills and cement factories, making natural hydrogen extraction a conveniently located solution for hard-to-abate sectors.

How much natural hydrogen can be extracted?

This varies, but each cubic metre of ultramafic rock can absorb up to 1 tonne of CO₂ while producing up to 20 kg of hydrogen. Our first test wells in the UAE alone may contain reserves over 100 million tonnes of hydrogen, with production costs projected at under $1 per kilogram. That compares to a cost of up to $15/kg for ‘green’ hydrogen today.

Where can natural hydrogen be found?

Ultramafic rocks are found abundantly worldwide, Decahydron has begun its work in the Arabian peninsula, which contains large and easily accessible formations. Here we find ultramafic rock close to high CO2-emmitting industries like power plants, steel mills and cement factories, making natural hydrogen extraction a conveniently located solution for hard-to-abate sectors.

How can natural hydrogen combat climate change?

By unlocking the planet’s hidden reserves of natural hydrogen, Decahydron is opening the door to a future where hydrogen is no longer expensive or environmentally damaging to produce. With our technology, this vast natural resource is ready to help meet global energy needs while tackling the climate crisis head on.

When are we likely to see large-scale production?

Decahydron plans to begin drilling test wells in early 2026 in the UAE. Initial production wells are targeted for 2027, delivering around 20,000 tonnes of natural hydrogen annually. Full-field development is expected to scale significantly by the end of the decade, with a goal of producing up to 1.5 million tonnes of clean, naturally occurring hydrogen each year.