>The dream of clean hydrogen has tantalized energy experts for years, but producing it has been tough. Many start-ups think the answer could lie beneath our feet.

This New York Times article explores the emerging field of "geologic hydrogen"—an experimental but potentially revolutionary source of clean energy found or produced underground.

Core Summary:

• The Location and Project: In Thetford Mines, Quebec, a startup called Vema Hydrogen is drilling test wells to inject treated water into iron-rich bedrock. The goal is to stimulate a natural chemical reaction called serpentinization (water reacting with iron-rich minerals) to artificially generate large quantities of hydrogen fuel without creating emissions.
• The Shift in Science: For a long time, geologists believed natural hydrogen wouldn't accumulate underground because its small molecules would leak away. However, recent discoveries—such as a natural hydrogen reservoir accidentally found in Mali—and updated research suggest the Earth holds massive, accessible deposits that could fulfill global energy demands for hundreds of years.
• Economic Advantage: The Department of Energy estimates that geologic hydrogen could cost less than $1 per kilogram. This makes it cheaper than hydrogen derived from fossil fuels and roughly one-sixth the cost of "green hydrogen" produced via wind and solar power.
• Key Challenges: Hydrogen is famously volatile, hard to store, and expensive to transport. Because of this, it must be utilized close to the production site. Additionally, engineering these underground reactions safely at a massive commercial scale remains largely unproven.
• Potential Applications: If successful, this cheap, clean fuel could be transformed into green methanol for container ships, synthetic methane to replace natural gas, or used directly to decarbonize heavy, high-emission industries like steelmaking, aviation, fertilizer production, and data centers.

A growing number of startups and geochemists are shifting from theoretical research to active drilling, with many viewing the mastery of underground hydrogen production as a potential "Holy Grail" for combating climate change.

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original URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/17/climate/geologic-hydrogen-clean-energy-underground.html

>"The firm said it will focus more on service offerings and will reassess its approach to solid oxide electrolysers"

Thyssenkrupp Nucera is shifting its business strategy for green hydrogen, moving away from a pure hardware-sales focus toward a service-oriented model. This pivot comes in response to a significant slump in electrolyzer sales and financial headwinds in the green H2 sector.

Core Strategic Shift: Service Over Sales

• Service-Led Model: The company plans to establish long-term service agreements (LTSAs) for its green hydrogen projects. This mirrors its successful chlor-alkali business, where services account for roughly 50% of revenue.
• Revenue Potential: Nucera estimates a potential service revenue of over €2 billion ($2.3 billion) based on its existing 3.5GW of sold electrolyzer capacity and the typical 25-year lifespan of these systems.
• Reassessing Technology: The firm is conducting a "thorough review" of its roadmap for Solid Oxide Electrolyzers (SOEC). While efficient, the company noted these systems require a longer time to market than initially anticipated.

Financial Performance and Challenges

• Sales Slump: The green hydrogen segment reported negative sales of €33 million in the most recent quarter.
• Project Write-off: This loss was primarily driven by a one-time €50 million write-off following the failure of a 20MW green hydrogen project at CF Industries' Donaldsonville Complex in Louisiana.
• Cost Containment: In response to the slowdown, the company has implemented a hiring freeze, reduced office space, and cut back on external consulting. It is also looking to leverage "best cost countries" for engineering and supply chain functions.

New Product Developments

To remain competitive, Nucera is introducing more efficient hardware options:

• Plug-and-Play: A 20MW "Scalum" electrolyzer system designed for outdoor use, aimed at reducing installation costs.
• Compact Designs: A more space-efficient version of its pressurized alkaline electrolyzers.

A Bright Spot: Increasing Orders

Despite the current sales dip, the company saw a massive surge in order intake, reaching €176 million (up from just €4 million the previous year). This was largely boosted by a 300MW alkaline electrolyzer contract for Project Onuba in Spain, which is set to be the country's largest green hydrogen plant.

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Original article: https://www.hydrogeninsight.com/electrolysers/thyssenkrupp-nucera-plans-business-model-shift-for-green-hydrogen-amid-falling-electrolyser-sales/2-1-1989014

• The EU's Long-Term Goal: To achieve full climate neutrality by 2050, the European Union has set aggressive clean energy targets, aiming to produce and import 20 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030.
• The Funding: To accelerate this transition, the EU is backing Nel ASA's industrialization efforts with a €135 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund, covering up to 60% of eligible costs.
• The Calluna Project: This is Nel's flagship initiative to scale up and mass-produce its next-generation pressurized alkaline electrolyser technology. Located at its automated plant in Herøya, Norway, the project establishes an immediate 1 GW/year production capacity, with a clear roadmap to scale up to 4 GW/year.

Following eight years of development and rigorous prototype testing, Nel has officially announced the commercial launch of this platform. Below is a summary of the technical and financial breakthroughs highlighted in their latest release:

Technical & Commercial Highlights:

• Cost Disruption: It sets a new cost benchmark, enabling an estimated turnkey full-scope cost below $1,450 per kW (based on a 25 MW plant). This is a massive drop compared to many current industrial projects that often approach or exceed $3,000 per kW.
• 40%–60% CAPEX Reduction: Standardizing components and streamlining the system architecture reduces overall CAPEX by up to 60% compared to existing options on the market.
• Standardized, Modular Design: Rather than custom, bespoke engineering projects, the platform uses factory-assembled and pre-tested 25 MW modular skid units.
• Outdoor-Ready: The system is engineered to operate reliably outdoors, removing the need for costly building construction and minimizing civil works.
• 15-Bar Pressurized Operation: Running at a 15-bar pressurized configuration improves overall energy efficiency and significantly reduces downstream compression costs.
• Optimized for Real-World Conditions: Designed specifically to handle the variable power inputs of renewable energy (wind/solar) while maintaining high in-field energy performance.

This launch represents a pivotal shift from custom-engineered projects to standardized, assembly-line industrialization—making large-scale green hydrogen economically viable for heavy industry, green steel, and e-fuels.

>"And there is ‘great potential’ across Canada"

The article from EnergyNow (March 2026) highlights a resurgence of hydrogen energy projects in British Columbia, signaling a shift from theoretical potential to practical application. Despite global hurdles like high costs and infrastructure challenges, BC is emerging as a hub for "green hydrogen" (produced by splitting water with electricity, releasing no CO2).

The key highlights of the article include:

Key Projects in BC

• Kruger Kamloops Pulp Mill: A $21.7 million project aimed at replacing natural gas with green hydrogen to power the mill’s lime kiln. It is expected to produce four tonnes of green hydrogen and 32 tonnes of oxygen daily, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7,000 tonnes per year.
• Brandywine Project: Coordinated by the Líl̓wat First Nation, this project received over $1 million in government grants. It will produce four tonnes of hydrogen daily to fuel hydrogen-powered trucks. The project is expected to displace five million litres of diesel annually and reduce CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes.

Economic and Indigenous Impact

• Indigenous Leadership: The projects emphasize the role of First Nations (such as the Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and Líl̓wat Nation) in leading the transition to a clean economy for future generations.
• Investment Scale: The BC government is currently managing approximately 50 hydrogen projects valued at an estimated $5 billion.

National and Global Context

• Federal Strategy: These moves align with Canada’s goal of reaching net-zero by 2050. The federal government is supporting the sector through investment tax credits for clean-hydrogen producers.
• Canada’s Potential: With over 80 projects announced nationwide since 2020 (representing $100 billion in potential investment), Canada is positioned to be a global leader in the hydrogen ecosystem.
• Alberta's Role: While BC is seeing new momentum, Alberta remains Canada's largest producer, leveraging 50 years of experience to integrate clean hydrogen into industrial processes.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the optimism, experts from the Clean Energy Research Laboratory at Ontario Tech University warn that the sector still faces significant obstacles, including:

• High production costs.
• Inadequate infrastructure for storage and transportation.
• Regulatory and technical hurdles.

In summary, the article portrays BC as a "living lab" for hydrogen, where industrial decarbonization and Indigenous-led initiatives are driving the next phase of Canada's energy transition.

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Original URL: https://energynow.ca/2026/03/hydrogen-shows-new-signs-of-life-in-bc/

The article from pv magazine, published May 8, 2026, details several major developments in the hydrogen sector, headlined by a significant product launch from Norwegian company Nel ASA.
Nel ASA Launches Next-Gen Electrolyzer
Nel ASA has introduced a new pressurized alkaline electrolyzer system designed to drastically reduce the cost of green hydrogen production. Key highlights include:

• Cost Efficiency: The system aims for a turnkey full-scope cost of below $1,450 per kW for a 25 MW plant. This is a significant drop compared to many current industrial projects that cost around $3,000 per kW.

• Technical Specs: It delivers hydrogen at 30 bar pressure with 99.99% purity. The pressurized design eliminates the need for some downstream compression, saving energy and lowering installation costs.

• Scalability: The modular design is intended for large-scale (gigawatt-level) industrial applications, focusing on standardization to shorten deployment timelines.

Other Key Industry Developments
The article also covers several other global hydrogen milestones:

• Large-Scale Orders in Spain: De Nora received orders from Thyssenkrupp Nucera for the 300 MW Moeve project in Andalusia, Southern Europe’s largest green hydrogen project. The order for electrolytic cells is valued between €30 million and €40 million.

• EU Subsidies: The European Commission approved €5 billion in state aid to help industries decarbonize via electrification, hydrogen, and CCS. Selected projects will receive 15-year "carbon contracts for difference."

• Hydrogen Shipping: A consortium led by the University of Vaasa (Finland) received €11.2 million to demonstrate a large vessel powered by a hydrogen-capable internal combustion engine.

• Low-Temperature Production Research: The University of Birmingham developed a new perovskite catalyst that allows water splitting at temperatures roughly 500°C lower than current methods, potentially enabling the use of industrial waste heat for hydrogen production.

• Stack Replacement Study: Research from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid suggests that the optimal time to replace electrolyzer stacks depends heavily on electricity prices and system utilization, rather than a universal standard.
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Original Url: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/05/08/the-hydrogen-stream-nel-asa-launches-new-pressurized-alkaline-electrolyzer/