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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN Philippines or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: In a surprising turn of events, two scientists, Jacques Pironon and Phillipe De Donato, discovered a potentially massive reservoir of "white hydrogen" while searching for fossil fuels in northeastern France
• Using a specialized probe, they detected increasing concentrations of hydrogen as they delved deeper
🔭 The context: White hydrogen, also known as "natural," "gold," or "geologic" hydrogen, is a clean energy source that produces only water when burned
• It is considered a climate holy grail for industries with high energy needs, such as aviation, shipping, and steel-making
• However, most commercial hydrogen is currently produced using fossil fuels in an energy-intensive process
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The discovery of white hydrogen could revolutionize the clean energy sector, providing a potentially abundant and untapped source of clean-burning energy
• This is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change, especially in industries that are difficult to decarbonize
⏭️ What's next: The scientists plan to drill down to 3,000 meters to gain a clearer understanding of the white hydrogen deposit's size
• Meanwhile, the global interest in white hydrogen is growing, with startups and investors exploring its potential for commercialization
💬 One quote: "Natural hydrogen is a solution which will allow us to get to speed (on climate action).” (Viacheslav Zgonnik, founder of Natural Hydrogen Energy)
📈 One stat: The deposit in northeastern France could be one of the largest white hydrogen deposits ever discovered, with an estimated 6 million to 250 million metric tons of hydrogen
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