'White hydrogen' in Zambales could become the world's cheapest clean energy

The government has granted US-based Koloma Inc. exclusive rights to explore for naturally occurring hydrogen in western Zambales, raising hopes for a cleaner and potentially cheaper energy source.

The Philippines is stepping up its search for “white hydrogen,” a naturally occurring underground gas that scientists believe could become one of the cleanest and cheapest energy sources.

The push gained momentum after the government granted US-based exploration firm Koloma Inc. exclusive rights to explore for natural hydrogen in western Zambales under a new service contract, expanding its exploration area in the country to more than 4,100 square kilometers.

Unlike the more common “gray” and “green” hydrogen, white hydrogen forms naturally beneath the Earth’s surface through geological processes and can be extracted directly from the ground without the energy-intensive industrial production required for other forms.

Because it does not need to be manufactured, experts say white hydrogen has the potential to produce little to no carbon emissions while costing less than other forms of hydrogen if commercially viable reserves are found.

The Department of Energy said this could eventually strengthen the country’s energy security, attract investments, create jobs, and provide another zero-emission fuel source as demand for cleaner energy grows.

Still, experts caution against viewing white hydrogen as a guaranteed solution. Critics note that commercially viable underground hydrogen deposits remain largely unproven, with many projects worldwide still in the exploration stage.

Others argue that extracting naturally occurring hydrogen could be technically challenging and expensive if deposits are too small or difficult to access, raising questions about whether it can eventually compete with rapidly expanding renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

Zambales has drawn particular interest because its ophiolite rock formations are considered favorable environments for naturally generating hydrogen as water reacts with iron-rich rocks deep underground.

Koloma, regarded as one of the world’s leading natural hydrogen exploration companies, has already begun seismic surveys under its earlier service contracts as it evaluates whether commercially viable deposits exist.

While experts remain optimistic about white hydrogen’s long-term potential, commercial production is still years away, with further exploration needed to determine whether enough hydrogen can be economically extracted to support large-scale energy production.