New research suggests vast underground hydrogen reservoirs in the Earth’s crust could provide clean energy to power the planet for 170,000 years.

These natural hydrogen systems exist beneath continents, including in at least 30 U.S. states, and have built up over a billion years.

Scientists have developed an “exploration recipe” to identify and extract these reservoirs safely and economically.

Unlike current hydrogen production, which contributes to CO2 emissions, this source could offer a sustainable, low-carbon energy supply critical for the future, ABC News has reported.

Demand for hydrogen is expected to grow significantly by 2050, making these findings promising for the global energy transition.

Written by B.C. Begley