A native energy resource, formed in the subsurface
Natural hydrogen — also known as native or geological hydrogen — is naturally produced in the subsurface. Its formation requires no critical materials, no anthropogenic energy, and does not affect available water resources. It offers a complementary solution to enrich the low-carbon hydrogen mix and stands as an essential pillar of the energy transition.
What is hydrogen? What are its characteristics?
Abundant
The most widespread element in the universe — the main component of the Sun and most stars, crucial in stellar nuclear processes.
Natural
Dihydrogen forms through spontaneous chemical reactions in the Earth’s crust, without any human intervention.
Rarely alone
Almost never isolated in nature — mostly combined into essential molecules such as water, methane, starch, sugar and alcohol.
The lightest
14 times lighter than air, giving it unique properties for aerospace and energy technologies.
An energy source
Three times more energy per mass than gasoline — a clean, powerful source for applications requiring high energy density.
Non-toxic & odorless
Pure dihydrogen is invisible, odorless and non-toxic — ideal where safety and the absence of olfactory pollution are paramount.
One substance, three strategic roles
Hydrogen is already central to industry — as a chemical compound, an energy carrier and a fuel.
As a chemical compound
Industrial chemistry
Very reactive, hydrogen easily combines with other elements — ammonia, methanol, nylon, plastics, fertilizers.
Refining
Removes sulfur during gasoline refining, preventing SOx emissions that contribute to air pollution.
Methanation
Combined with CO₂, hydrogen generates methane — a ‘Power to Gas’ path for storing excess renewable electricity.
As an energy carrier
Electricity
A hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity, heat and water — powering isolated sites, industrial units or emergency backup.
Storage
Excess solar and wind electricity produces hydrogen via an electrolyser, later reconverted through a fuel cell.
Mobility
Fuel-cell vehicles — cars, trains, trucks — produce electricity on board and emit only water.
As a fuel
Space
Rocket fuel since the beginning of the space industry — the highest energy concentration of any fuel.
Metallurgy
Heat-treatment atmospheres for producing mechanical parts or modifying their properties.
Hydrogen and Its Main Production Methods
Geological hydrogen
Hydrogen extracted from the subsurface is known as white or natural hydrogen. Unlike every other production method, it delivers low-carbon hydrogen at very competitive costs — requiring no water, no anthropogenic energy and no critical raw materials. This is the hydrogen ONHYM intends to explore and produce.
Steam reforming of hydrocarbons
Most hydrogen consumed today is produced from natural gas: steam breaks down the methane molecule to recover its hydrogen, generating CO₂ — grey when released, blue when captured and valorised.
Water electrolysis
Coal gasification
The oldest industrial process: steam converts coal’s carbon into hydrogen, CO and CO₂. Extremely polluting — the generated gases are released into the atmosphere.
The potential of natural hydrogen
Sectors difficult to decarbonize
Supporting developing economies
A low-friction replacement for revenues in economies dependent on oil and gas — uniting global climate efforts under the Paris Agreement while creating opportunities for many countries.
Accelerating the energy transition
Proven geoscience, applied to a new resource
Remote sensing
Remote sensors help identify areas with favorable geological indicators, mapping geological features and highlighting spectral signatures of hydrogen emissions.
Satellite & aerial imaging — maps geological features and highlights geomorphological depressions with hydrogen-emission spectral signatures.
Geochemical methods
Soil samples are taken with a pump equipped with a filtration system; analysing the chemical composition of collected gases informs their origin and post-genetic processes.
Stable isotope analysis — isotopes of hydrogen and associated gases analysed by chromatography and mass spectrometry via a pyrolysis interface.
Hydrogen flux measurements — ground-level sensors continuously measure subsurface hydrogen flux to locate active production areas.
Reservoir fluid analysis — fluids from underground reservoirs (water, gas, hydrocarbons) analysed to determine hydrogen concentration.
Geochemical methods
Geophysical surveys detect the subsurface conditions where hydrogen may form, migrate or be trapped.
Radiometry — detects natural gamma radiation to map subsurface properties and mineralogical changes tied to hydrogen reactions.
Magnetotellurics (MT) — measures electrical resistivity from natural magnetic-field variations, tracking draining structures to the asthenosphere.
Seismic — identifies geological structures that may contain hydrogen and reveals reservoir geometry.
Geological methods
Surface studies characterise rock types and the geological history that influence hydrogen presence.
Geological mapping — surface surveys identify rock types and structures such as faults and fractures.
Stratigraphy — stratigraphic sequences reveal formation and deposition events influencing hydrogen presence.
Petrography & mineralogy — mineral compositions and rock textures reveal conditions favouring hydrogen — iron-rich or silicate-rich rocks.
3D geological modeling — integrates geological, geochemical and geophysical data into a virtual subsurface model.
Remote sensing
The final step confirms the resource directly at depth.
Wells — drilled in potential areas to sample gases in geological formations for direct assessment of hydrogen presence.
Priority areas across the Kingdom
ONHYM’s study demonstrated the presence of natural hydrogen seeps in Morocco, identifying clusters in the Western Meseta and several potentially interesting areas in the Southern Provinces.
Berrechid Cluster
Berrechid–Settat–Safi H₂ seeps coincide with Paleozoic outcrops, bounded east by NE-SW faults parallel to the WMSZ and west by a N-S fault along Oued Oum Errabiâ. NE-SW faults strongly influence the shape, size and number of seeps.
Benslimane Cluster
East and northeast of Mohammedia, forming the continuity of the Berrechid cluster a similar structure with significant fault impacts on hydrogen formations,
Khémisset Cluster
Sidi Bennour Cluster
Tarfaya–Laâyoune–Dakhla Basin
Research & Development program
Surface mapping
Permanent hydrogen flux monitoring
Fault and fracture mapping
Geophysical study of deep faults and reservoirs
3D conceptual and dynamic modeling
Exploratory drilling program
