Key insights from the day:

• Belgian potential: project coordinators Estelle Petitclerc and Kris Welkenhuysen presented the state-of-the-art and plans for Belgian research. The GSB has already identified several theoritical zones of interest based on geological features related to hydrogen-forming processes (see map, numbers don’t represent priority).
• Future knowledge exchange: While the Lorraine case does not provide all the answers for Belgium due to differences in geological setting, it offers valuable opportunities for cross-border exchange of expertise.
• Technology in action: A hot but fascinating site visit of the Pontpierre well provided deep insights into the hydrogen reservoir, exploration techniques, and in-situ hydrogen measurement.

The day received extensive media coverage with interviews of our GSB researchers.

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 (indicated by the numbers on the map), 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.