WH2YTE

About the project

Date:

2025 - 2027

Typology:

R&D&I

Programme:

HAZITEK

Category:

Hidrógeno Natural

Partners:

TEAM Enginnering Group (Leader), Tubacex, H2Site, IntelliAlert, AMPO

Collaborators:

Tecnalia, Tubacex, Tekniker

Description

The aim of the WH2YTE initiative is to study and evaluate different technologies for detecting and exploiting existing natural hydrogen sources, applying image analysis tools using artificial intelligence, and advancing knowledge of the detection, extraction and treatment of this gas so that it becomes part of the hydrogen economy as a key resource for the decarbonisation of industry.

Scope & Objective

The main objective of WH2YTE is to advance knowledge of the mechanisms that lead to the generation and storage of natural hydrogen in the inner layers of the Earth.

The main technological challenge and the most significant innovation within the WH2YTE project is the stimulation of natural hydrogen production by simulating the conditions that occur in the rocks inside the Earth’s crust at a local level through the injection of water. In this way, it will be possible to generate natural hydrogen on a laboratory scale, which, in the coming years, would allow this technology to be applied in any area, local or global, where the necessary conditions for its generation exist.

WH2YTE’s specific objectives include:

Understanding the conditions for natural hydrogen formation and replicating them in laboratory tests to stimulate its production underground.
Determine the possible materials for tubular systems for water injection to stimulate production, as well as for the extraction of hydrogen from the subsoil.
Determine the effect of hydrogen on potential valve materials for extracting hydrogen from the subsoil, as well as coatings for valve components capable of maintaining their functionality under aggressive conditions at great depths.
Design solutions for separating hydrogen produced or extracted from other compounds that may form or be found in deposits.
Identify potential local locations where natural hydrogen may be found by studying geological structures that act as hydrogen traps, as well as analysing aerial images using artificial intelligence tools.