Idaho Could Be at the Forefront of a Hydrogen Energy Revolution
BOISE, ID – Southwest Idaho’s landscape, dominated by basalt rock, may hold the key to a new, clean energy source: naturally occurring hydrogen. Koloma, a company backed by major investors including Amazon, United Airlines, and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, is beginning exploratory drilling in the region, betting that the state could become a hub for this emerging industry.
The search for this “natural hydrogen” – created when water interacts with iron-rich rocks deep underground – is gaining momentum as the world seeks alternatives to fossil fuels. Unlike traditional energy sources,hydrogen regenerates rapidly,offering a potentially sustainable energy solution. While currently in its infancy – a single viable hydrogen well exists globally in Mali - the potential impact is significant, prompting some to call the hunt for commercially viable deposits ”the new gold rush.”
Koloma believes Idaho’s geology is particularly promising. The company is focusing on areas with abundant basalt, a volcanic rock common throughout southwest Idaho, where hydrogen gas can accumulate after being created by subterranean reactions. “Everybody is after what we would call a ‘commercially viable well,’ so can we find the resource in a large enough quantity to where we could actually bring it to market and put it to use,” explained koloma representative Delano.
The process differs significantly from traditional oil and gas extraction. Koloma’s drilling rigs resemble those used for oil and gas, but the company emphasizes that their exploration does not involve horizontal drilling or fracking.
Koloma has secured approximately $400 million in fundraising and is also exploring potential hydrogen sources in Kansas and Iowa. However, the path to commercialization is long.Morahan, another Koloma representative, told commissioners that years of testing and regulatory hurdles lie ahead. “We are truly in exploration mode,” she stated, adding, “We are where oil and gas was a century ago.”
