Natural Hydrogen Exploration Technologies (NEXT)
FINANCING PROGRAM
Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETPartnership)
Joint Call 2024, TRI3 – CM2024-05 Hydrogen and renewable fuels
DURATION OF THE PROJECT
December 2025 – May 2028
DIRECTOR DE PROIECT:
Giuseppe Etiope
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Natural hydrogen (H2), produced in the Earth’s crust, is a potential energy resource with low C-fingerprint and climatic impact. The NEXT project focuses on improving our understanding of natural H2 systems across Europe, exploring them as a viable carbon-free energy source. This interdisciplinary project will gather new knowledge on natural H2 occurrences and potential seepage sites in Europe, which is crucial for identifying suitable targets for geological H2 extraction. Therefore, NEXT will enhance our ability to manage and utilize subsurface H2 effectively.
The project is coordinated by the NORWEGIAN RESEARCH CENTRE (NORCE, Norway) and performed by a consortium of 15 European research institutes, companies and universities.
The UBB work is carried out through the ENGAGE-LAB team, and includes the following activities and objectives:
- Development of an atlas of natural H2 occurrences in Europe
- Understanding geological H2 generation mechanisms, through analyses of H2 occluded in rocks
- Understanding near-surface (soil) processes generating H2, through soil-gas surveys in Romania
- Public communication of the European natural H2 study.