Australia may be sitting on one of the world's most remarkable clean energy resources — and it has been quietly brewing underground for billions of years.
Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) have discovered that Western Australia's vast iron ore deposits are naturally producing significant quantities of hydrogen gas. If the process can be scaled up, scientists say it could transform Australia into a major clean energy exporter while providing a substantial domestic energy reserve.
The study, published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, focuses on magnetite — a mineral found in enormous quantities in the Pilbara region, one of the largest banded iron formations on Earth. The team found that when magnetite is exposed to hot water under the high-pressure conditions present deep underground, it releases hydrogen gas through a natural geochemical reaction.
To simulate these underground conditions in the laboratory, researchers placed magnetite samples in water heated to 200°C under intense pressure for 60 days. The results were clear: significant hydrogen production occurred, and the team identified ways to deliberately stimulate the process further.
"Australia could be sitting on a massive, untapped energy reserve — and the potential is enormous," said Associate Professor Alireza Keshavarz. "There is enough hydrogen for Australia to benefit for generations, and potentially enough for us to become a major exporter of clean energy to the rest of the world."
This naturally occurring hydrogen — sometimes called geological hydrogen or gold hydrogen — is distinct from both the green hydrogen produced by electrolysis using renewable energy and the grey hydrogen currently made from fossil fuels. It forms through natural geochemical reactions in iron-rich rock formations over geological timescales, meaning it carries a remarkably low carbon footprint.
What makes the ECU discovery especially significant is the finding that the amount of hydrogen produced doesn't depend only on how much magnetite is present. The structure of the surrounding rock matters critically.
"Our findings show that hydrogen production depends not only on the amount of magnetite present, but also on how easily water can access fresh mineral surfaces through fractures, pores and permeable pathways," said Professor Stefan Iglauer. Cracks and pores in the rock create channels for hot water to flow through, enabling the chemical reaction to continue at scale deep underground.
The team also discovered that injecting a solution into banded iron formations can actively stimulate hydrogen production — raising the possibility of engineered underground hydrogen generation using existing geological infrastructure.
Lead author Kaveh Moghanirahimi summed up the potential: "Western Australia has some of the world's largest banded iron formations. If we can unlock this resource at scale, it could be transformative for our energy future. We even see the potential for Western Australia to strengthen its energy independence during times of crisis through access to this naturally generated hydrogen."
Australia's Pilbara region is already one of the world's top iron ore exporters. If those same geological formations also harbour vast clean hydrogen reserves, the economic and environmental implications are profound. Rather than displacing existing industries, geological hydrogen exploration could complement Australia's mining heritage while opening a new chapter in clean energy.
The research brings scientists closer to understanding how naturally produced hydrogen moves through real rock formations — a critical step toward determining whether geological hydrogen can be extracted reliably and at commercially viable scales.
For a world still racing to transition away from fossil fuels, the discovery of a vast, naturally occurring clean energy source tucked beneath one of Earth's great iron ore belts is remarkable news — proof that the solutions to tomorrow's energy challenges may have been forming beneath our feet for billions of years.
