Environment

From mining giants to Big Oil, major players are jumping on the ‘white hydrogen’ bandwagon

Published

3 months ago

April 28, 2025

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The construction site of a plant for the production of hydrogen in Germany.

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A growing number of sizable companies, from mining giants to energy majors, are embracing the hype for natural hydrogen.

It comes as buzz continues to build over the potential for a resource that advocates say could radically reshape the global energy landscape.

Natural hydrogen, sometimes known as white, gold or geologic hydrogen, refers to hydrogen gas that is found in its natural form beneath Earth’s surface. The long-overlooked resource, first discovered by accident in Mali nearly 40 years ago, contains no carbon and produces only water when burned.

Investor interest in the nascent natural hydrogen sector has been intensifying in recent months, fueling optimism initially driven by research startups and junior exploration companies.

Over the past year or so, some of the sector’s established backers include mining giants Rio Tinto and Fortescue, Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom, the venture capital arm of British oil giant BP and Bill Gates‘ clean tech investment fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

We can use it to make metals, make fuels, you could even make food, and all with far fewer emissions than conventional approaches.

Eric Toone

Chief technology officer at Breakthrough Energy

Exploratory efforts are currently underway in several countries across the globe, with Canada and the U.S. leading the way in terms of project counts over the last year, according to research published by consultancy Rystad Energy.

Analysts expect the year ahead to be a pivotal one, with industry players hoping their exploration campaigns can soon locate the elusive gas.

Not everyone’s convinced about the clean energy potential of natural hydrogen, however, with critics flagging environmental concerns and distribution challenges. For its part, the International Energy Agency has warned there is a possibility that the resource “is too scattered to be captured in a way that is economically viable.”

A global scramble for ‘white gold’

Minh Khoi Le, head of hydrogen research at Rystad Energy, said it’s difficult to predict whether natural hydrogen can live up to its promise in 2025.

“I guess last year was the year that things got really interesting for the natural hydrogen space because that’s when many companies started to plan drilling campaigns, extraction testing and we started to see some major players start to get involved as well,” Le told CNBC by video call.

“Since then, I would say the progress has been relatively slow. There are only a few companies that have actually started drilling,” he added.

Gauges that are part of the electrolysis plant of the geological hydrogen H2 storage facility.

Alex Halada | Afp | Getty Images

Rystad’s Le, who characterized the global pursuit of natural hydrogen as a “white gold rush” last year, said that while there’d been no major progress over the last 12 months, an upswing in investor interest could help to deliver some meaningful results.

“Now, we are starting to see companies getting investment, so they have money to fund their drilling campaigns. So, if we are to get an answer of whether this thing will work, we’ll get to that conclusion a bit faster this year,” Le said.

Hydrogen has long been billed as one of many potential energy sources that could play a key role in the energy transition, but most of it is produced using fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, a process that generates significant greenhouse gas emissions.

Green hydrogen, a process that involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity, is one exception to the hydrogen color rainbow. However, its development has been held back by soaring costs and a challenging economic environment.

Clean, homegrown energy

Australia’s HyTerra announced an investment of $21.9 million from Fortescue in August last year, noting that the proceeds would be used to fully fund expanded exploration projects.

A spokesperson for Fortescue, one of the leading green hydrogen developers, said its push into the natural hydrogen sector was in line with its “strategic commitment to exploring zero emissions fuels.”

Acknowledging that more work is required to fully assess natural hydrogen’s emissions profile, Fortescue’s spokesperson described the technology as a “promising opportunity” to accelerate industrial decarbonization.

A hydrogen-powered haul truck, right, at the Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. Christmas Creek mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Australia, on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Elsewhere, BP Ventures, the venture capital arm of BP, led a Series A funding round of U.K.-based natural hydrogen exploration startup Snowfox Discovery earlier this year, while France-based start-up Mantle8 recently received 3.4 million euros ($3.9 million) in seed funding from investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a climate and technology fund founded by Bill Gates in 2015.

Eric Toone, chief technology officer at Breakthrough Energy, said the fund had backed the likes of Mantle8 and U.S.-based startup Koloma because the promise of natural hydrogen is such that it “could unlock a new era of clean, homegrown energy.”

“Hydrogen is pure reactive chemical energy. If we have enough hydrogen and it’s cheap enough, we can do almost anything. We can use it to make metals, make fuels, you could even make food, and all with far fewer emissions than conventional approaches,” Toone told CNBC via email.

“We know it’s out there and not just in isolated pockets. Early exploration has identified natural hydrogen across six continents. The challenge now is figuring out how to extract it efficiently, move it safely, and build the systems to put it to work,” he added.

In search of the ‘eureka moment’

Aurian Durbuis, chief of staff at France’s Mantle8, said momentum certainly appears to be building from a venture capital perspective.

“There is a growing interest, indeed, especially given the dynamics with green hydrogen right now, unfortunately. People are turning their eyes to other solutions, which is in our favor,” Durbuis told CNBC by video call.

Taking the evolution of US shale-gas as an analogy, even if large finds are made, it will likely take decades to achieve industrial production.

Arnout Everts

Member of the Hydrogen Science Coalition

Based in Grenoble, in the foothills of the French Alps, Mantle8 is targeting the discovery of 10 million tons of natural hydrogen by 2030 to complement the European Union’s goals.

“The question is can we find producible reservoirs, in the oil and gas terminology. That’s really what we need to figure out as an industry,” Durbuis said.

“We think we can drill in 2028 and hopefully that is the eureka moment because if we can find something at that time, then it could obviously be a game changer. If we find highly concentrated hydrogen, with pressure, then this just changes everything,” he added.

What’s next for natural hydrogen?

The Hydrogen Science Coalition, a group of academics, scientists and engineers seeking to bring an evidence-based view to hydrogen’s role in the energy transition, said exploration for natural hydrogen is still at an “embryonic stage” — but even so, the likelihood of locating large finds of nearly pure hydrogen that can be extracted at scale look “relatively slim.”

The world’s only producing hydrogen well in Mali, for example, supplies “just a fraction of the daily energy output of a single wind turbine,” Arnout Everts, a geoscientist and member of the Hydrogen Science Coalition, told CNBC via email.

The team from the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) took samples of natural hydrogen gas found in One Pute Jaya Village, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, 23 October 2023.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

“Taking the evolution of US shale-gas as an analogy, even if large finds are made, it will likely take decades to achieve industrial production,” Everts said.

Ultimately, the Hydrogen Science Coalition said the pursuit of natural hydrogen risks distracting focus from the renewable hydrogen needed to decarbonize industries today.

Environment

bp pulse opens massive EV charging hub near LAX Airport, it’s largest in the US to date

Published

3 hours ago

July 23, 2025

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bp pulse opens massive EV charging hub near LAX Airport, it's largest in the US to date

EV charging arm bp pulse has cut the ribbon on a long-promised new hub near LAX Airport. This is the first of many “Gigahubs” in the works and has opened as bp pulse’s largest EV charging station in the US.

bp pulse has risen as one of the world’s more prominent EV charging networks while simultaneously operating under the umbrella of one of the most notorious oil companies. To date, bp pulse has implemented over 40,000 EV charge points worldwide, including over 8,000 locations across 46 states in the US.

Part of that strategy includes a sub-network of bp pulse Gigahubs—large EV fast-charging hubs designed to serve ride-hail and taxi fleets near US airports and other high-demand regions. In October 2022, BP Pulse announced plans to bring its first Gigahub and implement EV charging near LAX Airport through a collaboration with Hertz, partially funded by a $2 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC).

Two and a half years later, bp pulse has officially cut the ribbon on its new LAX charging hub, which will soon formally open to the public.

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bp pulse offers EV charging, lounge, and WiFi near LAX

According to a release from bp pulse today, the new EV charging Gigahub is located two miles from LAX Airport and features 48 DC charging piles. The chargers offer a mix of 150kW and 400kW options as well as CCS and NACS plugs.

During a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by bp pulse executives and key stakeholders, the EV charging business said the LAX Gigahub is its largest charging station in the US to date, and is the first of several more hubs in its pipeline that will be erected in collaboration with Hertz. Sujay Sharma, CEO of bp pulse Americas, spoke:

Our new hub near LAX is another example of how we’re bringing fast, reliable charging to our customers when and where they need it, alongside convenient amenities. We’re committed to expanding our charging network to more metro and airport locations like this one to support EV drivers and ride-hailing fleets in a simple, reliable, and cost-effective way.

In addition to an array of EV fast charging options, bp’s new LAX hub features a lounge, vending machines, restrooms, and complimentary WiFi. Per bp, the new Gigahub will be open to the public very soon.

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Environment

Kia reveals 7 new PV5 electric van variants — From camper to pickup truck

Published

4 hours ago

July 23, 2025

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Kia reveals 7 new PV5 electric van variants — From camper to pickup truck

Kia plans to introduce a series of new models based on the PV5. During its PV5 Tech Day event on Tuesday, Kia revealed plans for seven new body types, including a camper (for the van lifers out there), a “Premium” luxury model, and a pickup truck.

Kia converts the PV5 EV van into much more

During the event on Tuesday, Kia gave us a closer look at what it’s calling “the world’s most useful electric mobility vehicle.”

The PV5 is Kia’s first electric van from its Platform Beyond Vehicle (PBV) business. According to Kia, the PBVs, or electric vans, are “total mobility solutions,” combining its most advanced software with fit-for-purpose EVs.

“The PV5, which marked the beginning of future mobility, implemented innovations encompassing space maximization, expandability, and connectivity through active communication with customers from the early stage of development,” Joo Su-ha, a managing director at Kia’s R&D headquarters, explained at the event.

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Kia claims to be the first to use a unique new development process, enabling a wide range of uses. In fact, Kia found over 1,000 user scenarios through a 3D verification process with local government and institutions.

Kia-PV5-EV-van — The E-GMP.S platform powers all Kia PBV EV van models (Source: Kia)

To unlock its full potential, Kia plans to introduce seven new body types based on the PV5 EV van. These include Passenger and Cargo models, a Cargo Compact (available in 3- and 4-door configurations), and a Cargo High Roof, which was launched in Europe and South Korea last month.

New variations will include an open bed, Light Camper, Prime luxury passenger, built-in truck, and a refrigerated truck.

Kia plans to begin delivering PV5 Passenger and Cargo Long models in its home market next month, followed by Europe and other global markets, starting in the fourth quarter.

With new variants on the way, we’ve already caught a glimpse of a few out in public testing. Last month, we got our first look at the PV5 with an open bed. In May, the Conversion model, which will host new top hats including the Light Camper, was spotted on a car carrier in Korea.

Kia opened pre-orders for the PV5 Passenger and Cargo models in the UK on May 1, starting at £32,995 ($44,000) and £27,645 ($37,000), respectively.

It’s available with two battery pack options: 51.5 kWh or 71.2 kWh. The PV5 Passenger has a WLTP range of 179 miles and 249 miles, respectively. The Cargo model has the same battery pack options but is rated for a range of either 181 miles or 247 miles.

Kia aims to sell around 3,000 to 4,000 PV5 electric vans in its first full year of sales. But by the end of the decade, the Korean automaker expects to sell around 17,000 PBVs annually.

Following the PV5, Kia will introduce the larger PV7 in 2027 and PV9 in 2029. Kia builds all PBV models at its Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea, which has the capacity to produce up to 150,000 units per year.

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Environment

This $900 million solar farm in Texas is going 100% to data centers

Published

20 hours ago

July 22, 2025

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This 0 million solar farm in Texas is going 100% to data centers

Texas solar Meta — Photo by Kelly on Pexels.com

Enbridge is going big on solar again in Texas, and Meta is snapping up all the solar power it can get.

Last month, Electrek reported that the Canadian oil and gas pipeline giant just launched its first solar farm in Texas. Now it’s given the green light to Clear Fork, a 600 megawatt (MW) utility-scale solar farm already under construction near San Antonio. The project is expected to come online in summer 2027.

Once it’s up and running, every bit of Clear Fork’s electricity will go to Meta Platforms under a long-term contract. Meta will use the solar power to help run its energy-hungry data centers entirely on clean energy.

The solar farm project’s cost is around $900 million. Enbridge says it expects Clear Fork to boost the company’s cash flow and earnings starting in 2027.

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Enbridge EVP Matthew Akman said the project reflects “growing demand for renewable power across North America from blue-chip companies involved in technology and data center operations.”

Meta’s head of global energy, Urvi Parekh, added that the company is “thrilled to partner with Enbridge to bring new renewable energy to Texas and help support our operations with 100% clean energy.”

Meta’s first multi-gigawatt data center, Prometheus, is expected to come online in 2026.

Clear Fork is part of a growing trend: tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Google are racing to lock down renewable energy contracts as they expand their fleets of AI-ready data centers, which use massive amounts of electricity.

The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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