The Federal Council of Ministers has approved the first phase of a national scientific exploration programme for natural hydrogen in Belgium. Natural or white hydrogen offers the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and increase strategic security. With this programme, the Geological Survey of Belgium aims to determine if and where natural hydrogen occurs in the Belgian subsurface.
The multi-year programme focuses on two parallel tracks: advanced 3D geological modeling and real-world field detection. Our experts will investigate various formation mechanisms, including oxidation in iron-rich rocks and radiolysis in deep granites, reaching deeper into the Earth’s crust than any previous Belgian mapping efforts. By building specialized analytical capacity, we will validate where hydrogen might be forming, migrating, and accumulating. Several areas in distinct geological settings will be evaluated, providing full coverage of our country.
With this programme, Belgium is positioning itself at the forefront of the green transition. This scientific mission provides the objective data necessary to evaluate whether natural hydrogen can become a strategic asset for Belgium’s sustainable future.
More information can be found in the RBINS press release.
Additional information on the preliminary identification of hydrogen-relevant geological structures is available in our geo-energy report.
