Mapping Europe's Natural Hydrogen Potential: A Continental-Scale Geological Prospectivity Assessment

Florian H. J. Willemsen, Johannes Miocic

Natural hydrogen, generated by a range of geological processes in the Earth's crust, is emerging as a promising carbon-neutral energy source. However, systematic large-scale assessments of its subsurface occurrence remain limited. This study presents the first continental-scale prospectivity map of natural hydrogen in Europe, integrating geological indicators of hydrogen generation, reservoir quality, and sealing capacity. A comprehensive inventory of ultramafic rock bodies—key indicators of hydrogen potential—is compiled and spatially analysed. To address geological uncertainty, we apply Monte Carlo simulations, yielding conservative, median, and optimistic resource estimates. High-prospectivity regions are identified in Hungary, Denmark, Poland, and Serbia, with many documented hydrogen occurrences aligning with predicted source zones. This spatial assessment provides a critical framework for early-stage exploration, supports future energy security strategies, and highlights key regions for focused research and development in the context of the energy transition.