A workshop on geological hydrogen, hosted by the US Arctic Research Commission and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, and co-sponsored to by the Office of the Ambassador at Large for Arctic Affairs, Dr. Mike Sfraga, will be held October 29-31*, 2024, at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, in Fairbanks, AK. Registration is free.
*Note 8/26/24: The workshop dates were initially advertised as Oct. 29-30, but have been expanded to include Oct. 31.
Objective
The goal of the first two days of the workshop is to discuss current research on geological hydrogen and to determine what is needed to develop a sustainable research effort to assess Alaska's geological hydrogen potential. On the third day, discussions will focus on the utility, economics, storage and transportation of hydrogen, as well as the policy and regulation needed for research, exploration, and development.
Participants
We anticipate upwards of 100 participants, including international experts on geologic hydrogen and Alaska geology, and representatives from private industry, Alaska Native Organizations, and government representatives, including regulatory and resource management agencies and legislators.
Confirmed speakers include representatives from the University of Alaska, the US Geological Survey, the Department of Energy (National Laboratories and ARPA-E), the University of Texas at Austin Bureau of Economic Geology, Cornell University, Alaska Department of Natural Resources Geological & Geophysical Surveys, the Finnish Geological Survey, and other domestic and international government, industry, and business leaders.
During the workshop, all attendees will actively discuss current research and exploration efforts and what it would take to develop a sustainable research effort to assess Alaska's geological hydrogen potential. Come prepared to ask questions and to share your opinions and resources that could be useful in developing geologic hydrogen.
Motivation
Hydrogen gas can be “burned” to produce clean (carbon-free) energy; the only byproduct is water.
Most hydrogen used today in the global energy system is produced from other energy sources, such as natural gas and coal (which produces CO2 as a byproduct) and by renewables.
However, scientists have recently discovered that hydrogen gas, formed naturally by geological processes deep within the Earth, accumulates in deposits and can be accessed and recovered by drilling, and then burned to produce clean energy or converted to useful products such as fertilizer.
Better yet, this geologic hydrogen may be continuously generated by chemical and geological processes which squeeze water together with minerals (e.g., olivine) to produce hydrogen gas along with serpentine minerals (e.g., talc and magnetite) and fluids.
Because of its purity, geologic hydrogen, also referred to as “natural,” “gold,” or “white” hydrogen, could play a big role in the global transition to clean energy. Based on drilling in Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Lower 48, new companies (including Koloma, a 2023 startup funded with $91M from Bill Gates), have sprung up with the goal of finding and extracting natural hydrogen gas.
While there are geological settings in Alaska, and the broader Arctic region may be conducive to producing natural hydrogen, which are typically not associated with oil and gas deposits, they have yet to be studied and assessed by geologists.
Hydrogen can be used to power vehicles, ships, planes, power generators, and other industrial applications. And it’s likely that natural hydrogen can be produced at a lower price and with lower energy (less carbon) than other types of hydrogen, including the type created from renewable energy.
Please view this folder for more resources on geologic hydrogen.
Registration
Registration is now closed. View the working agenda.
This is an in-person, no-cost, by invitation-only workshop. The link to the online reservation will be emailed to you by adminofficer@arctic.gov. The workshop will not be broadcast for remote viewing or participation. Coffee, snacks, and boxed lunches will be provided free to registered participants. There are several hotels near the University of Alaska Fairbanks; attendees should make their own reservations. See below for more information.
Contact Debra Dickson, adminofficer@arctic.gov, with any questions about the workshop, including late registration requests.
- Parking
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Parking passes for UAF campus lots are obtained at kiosks. Parking is $1.25 per hour and $5 per day. More information about visitor parking can be found here.
View the UAF campus map here. This workshop will be held in the Wood Center; recommended lots are 4D/4E/4F (there is a shuttle between this lot and the workshop venue; check the real-time schedule here) or 8A/8B (<5-minute walk; includes steep staircase; no shuttle service).
- Food options
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Coffee, snacks and lunches will be provided to registered participants. For other meals, there are a number of nearby, off-campus dining options:
- Lulu's Bread and Bagels
- Lemongrass
- Little Owl Café
- House of the Rising Bun
- House of Fire Pizza (West location)
This is not an inclusive list of all restaurant options available in Fairbanks, AK.
- Hotel/Lodging options
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This is not an inclusive list of all hotel options available in Fairbanks, AK. Some of these hotels may/may not offer federal government rates for lodging. No hotel rooms are reserved as part of a group block.
- Transportation options
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- Airport: Fairbanks International Airport
- Taxi/Rideshare options: Ground transportation options (taxis, car rentals, public transportation, shuttles, etc.) are available here. Services like Uber and Lyft are unreliable in Fairbanks.
- Other resources
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- Google Map of downtown Fairbanks
- Explore Fairbanks—Includes things to know for planning your trip (FAQ, weather, hours of daylight, attractions, aurora viewing, etc.)