DOE eyes Pangasinan, Zambales as sources of native hydrogen
LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN—The Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring parts of western Pangasinan and Zambales for native hydrogen after expert studies suggested the possible presence of this clean energy source in the two provinces.
Native hydrogen, also known as white or natural hydrogen, is one of the potential energy sources that the DOE is exploring as part of the agency’s programs to lessen the country’s dependence on imported fuels.
DOE officials said an aerial survey will start in the last week of February until May this year to acquire gravity and magnetic data on rock formations in the two provinces.
“We aim to discover energy resources within our own territory,” DOE supervising science research specialist Andres Pangilinan Jr. said during a presentation of the plan to the Pangasinan provincial board on Monday.
Vice Gov. Mark Lambino said the areas to be explored are the mountainous parts of Pangasinan, where initial surface surveys indicate mineral deposits.
“The presence of the Manleluag hot springs [in Mangatarem town] in the second district is considered an indicator that there may be natural hydrogen. These indicators serve as the basis for assessing whether it is viable and whether there is really something there,” Lambino said.
The provincial board, he said, does not need to issue a resolution or endorsement to the DOE because the activity is limited only to exploration. “It would be a different matter once they proceed to extraction, whether for testing or otherwise, because that would already involve the relevant [government] offices,” Lambino said.
The DOE’s hydrogen exploration study, which includes geologic mapping, was initiated due to the possible presence of native hydrogen in the provinces’ ophiolite areas which are fragments of ancient oceanic crust and upper mantle that have been uplifted and thrust onto continental crust, usually during mountain-building processes.
“Native hydrogen generation typically occurs in rocks known as ultramafic rocks. Where can these be found? They are commonly found in what we call ophiolite areas. Such ophiolite formations are present from Zambales to Pangasinan,” Pangilinan said.
He presented a map showing the Zambales ophiolite and said the challenge was to determine its true size and extent, and whether it reaches Pangasinan’s western section. The DOE has recently offered and awarded service contracts for the project.
Initial stage
“This is still a study—an initial stage of exploration. In other words, this is only step one in the search for potential energy sources that we hope the DOE will discover,” Pangilinan said.
The search for native hydrogen is part of the Philippine Energy Plan, which serves as the country’s blueprint for identifying new energy sources to reduce dependence on imported fuels, said Jose Marie Arcega, senior science research specialist from the DOE’s Energy Resource Development Bureau.
“This refers to hydrogen gas that naturally occurs underground. At present, hydrogen fuel is typically produced through electrolysis—electricity is passed through water to separate hydrogen from oxygen. This process requires energy input. In contrast, what we are looking for is naturally occurring hydrogen—hydrogen that already exists underground and does not need to be manufactured. That is our target energy source,” Arcega said.
“To explain more simply: deep underground, there are rocks. The type of rock we are particularly interested in is greenish in color and rich in iron—what we call olivine-rich rocks. When these rocks react with water, they can produce hydrogen gas through a natural chemical reaction that occurs over long periods of time,” he added.
******
Get real-time news updates: inqnews.net/inqviber
