Eden announces funding to develop stimulated geologic hydrogen technologies

The funding is part of the US$20 million ARPA-E Geologic Hydrogen programme, which prioritises funding new technologies that stimulate generation of hydrogen in the subsurface, with an emphasis on minimising costs and reducing environmental footprint. Eden will develop novel stimulated geologic hydrogen technologies to boost production from iron-rich formations like peridotites and develop game-changing solutions for long-term electrical energy storage in geological formations.

Model predictions reveal that the global geologic hydrogen potential exceeds millions of megatonnes (Mt), and only a portion of it is capable of meeting the projected hydrogen demand for centuries. This offers promising opportunities for sustainable energy production and reduced carbon emissions. However, challenges exist, particularly concerning lack of permeability within geological formations, which can hinder efficient hydrogen production and extraction. Addressing these challenges is crucial to accessing clean hydrogen resources. The concept of 'stimulated' hydrogen, where new hydrogen can be produced by circulating fluids through suitable geological formations, presents a compelling solution, potentially expanding the market size beyond what will be possible from conventional 'natural hydrogen' deposits. One innovative approach to enhancing permeability in geologic hydrogen reservoirs is through Eden's Electrical Reservoir Stimulation (ERS) technology. By leveraging this technology, it is possible to optimise reservoir conditions, improving hydrogen generation reactions, and enhancing recovery rates thereby bolstering overall efficiency. Furthermore, Eden's ERS technology holds promise not only for stimulated hydrogen but also for enhancing the recovery rate of conventional 'natural hydrogen'. Additionally, Eden's recent introduction of the 'Geobattery' concept represents a significant expansion of their core ERS technology, offering novel avenues for long term energy storage and systematic utilisation, thereby further advancing the landscape of sustainable energy solutions.

“Eden’s patented Electric Reservoir Stimulation technology can significantly increase the production rate of hydrogen from geologic resources,” said Dr. Paris Smalls, CEO and Co-Founder of Eden. “This new support from ARPA-E builds upon our current efforts to develop geologic hydrogen in Oman, and new deeper relationships with research groups and universities will significantly support our mission to enable commercial-scale production of geologic hydrogen globally.”

In the first project, titled 'Electric-based Mechanical and Thermal Stimulation to Increase Geologic Hydrogen Reaction Rates in the Samail Ophiolite, Oman,' Eden will work with Dr. Alexis Templeton’s research group at the University of Colorado Boulder to experimentally demonstrate how peridotite rock types respond to electrical reservoir stimulation to produce significant enhancements in reactive surface area and water permeation while also increasing the local temperature to promote reaction conditions suitable for the production of carbon-free hydrogen.

"The Samail Ophiolite is recognised as the largest onshore ophiolite outcrop in the world. We possess the capability to showcase hydrogen production from these rocks, alongside the feasibility of enhancing production rates through Eden's proprietary ERS technology," explained Dr. Ammar Alali, the project's lead Principal Investigator and Co-Founder and President of Eden. "This initiative is a continuation of our recent agreement with the Oman Ministry of Energy and Minerals, signed at the end of last year. It represents a foundational step towards the desktop study, ERS demonstration, and development of geological hydrogen resources in Oman, as outlined in the agreement."

“The application of Eden’s ERS technology to create fracture networks in peridotite rocks and optimise reaction conditions suitable for hydrogen production will be essential to develop a ‘stimulated geological hydrogen’ industry that can supply abundant clean hydrogen resources,” said Dr. Alexis Templeton, co-Investigator on the project, Head Geochemist at Eden, and Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.

In the second project, titled 'Engineered Geologic Hydrogen Battery for Long-Term Energy Storage', Eden will take advantage of the reversible chemical reactions of iron in common iron-rich geologic formations for reliable long-duration energy storage by utilising excess grid energy to reduce spent iron into usable iron for multiple cycles of carbon-free hydrogen production.

“We are excited to be developing Eden's unique capability to convert electrical energy into hydrogen using geological formations. This technology would enable long-term energy storage, enhance energy security, and reduce carbon emissions by producing carbon-free hydrogen,” said Dr. Vikas Agrawal, Lead Principal Investigator on the project, and Senior Geochemist at Eden.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalhydrogenreview.com/hydrogen/14022024/eden-announces-funding-to-develop-stimulated-geologic-hydrogen-technologies/