H2 View reports that a start-up promising to produce low-cost hydrogen through a process that uses natural subsurface reactions has completed drilling its first two pilot wells in Quebec, Canada.

California-based Vema Hydrogen says the wells will host the world’s first “engineered mineral hydrogen” technology project, in which water will be injected into sub-surface, iron-bearing rocks. The resulting hydrogen-producing reactions could, it claims, produce huge volumes of hydrogen for less than $1/kg. This price undercuts even unabated fossil-based processes.

According to a company press release, the Vema Hydrogen approach will make clean hydrogen a viable solution for large-scale industrial energy and baseload power needs by replicating geologic hydrogen generation, a naturally occurring process in the Earth’s crust.

The pilot wells will be used to analyse subsurface fluid movement, reaction rates, and hydrogen output – data the company says will underpin its commercial-scale modelling. Says CEO, Pierre Levin, “Moving from benchtop experiments to real-world field environments is a complex but essential step in bringing EMH to energy-intensive industries.  This pilot will provide the critical data needed to validate Engineered Mineral Hydrogen at commercial scale and demonstrate that Quebec can lead the world in this emerging clean energy category. The quality of the rock within our core samples is exactly what we expected, and is very promising for hydrogen yields.”

Vema recently entered into a 10-year hydrogen purchase and sale agreement with Verne Power to supply clean hydrogen for data centers across California – one of the fastest growing energy markets in the world. Vema was also recognized as a Qualified Supplier by the First Public Hydrogen Authority (FPH2), enabling the company to support California’s clean energy transition through future hydrogen supply to FPH2’s statewide network.