Getech Enters Stimulated Geologic Hydrogen with First Contract Supporting GeoKiln’s Engineered Hydrogen Technology

Getech, a global leader in subsurface resource location and geoscience intelligence, has secured its first contract in the emerging field of stimulated geologic hydrogen through a pilot project with GeoKiln, a Breakthrough Energy Fellows–backed company developing Manufactured Subsurface Hydrogen (MSSH™). The agreement marks the formal launch of Getech’s new service line focused on engineered and stimulated hydrogen systems, extending its long-standing expertise across petroleum, minerals, geothermal energy, and natural hydrogen.

Under the pilot project, Getech will apply its world-leading gravity and magnetic (G&M) datasets and interpretation workflows to identify iron-rich subsurface rock volumes and structural settings suitable for stimulated hydrogen production. The work will support GeoKiln’s first pilot deployment in Minnesota, where precision heating techniques are used to accelerate natural water–rock reactions in situ, enabling continuous hydrogen generation directly within the subsurface.

“This project is an important milestone in leveraging our geoscience expertise for new energy sources,” said Chris Jepps, CEO of Getech. “By combining our global gravity and magnetic datasets with GeoKiln’s technology, we are helping engineered hydrogen projects move from concept toward location-specific development plans. GeoKiln’s backing by Breakthrough Energy underscores the potential of this approach and reinforces Getech’s role at the forefront of subsurface-led hydrogen exploration.”

The study will calibrate gravity and magnetic signatures against known hydrogen-generating lithologies, validating GeoKiln’s MSSH™ technology while defining the most prospective locations for future appraisal and development. The pilot is expected to conclude in Q1 2026, with workflows designed for replication across additional regions as the sector scales.

GeoKiln CEO Alexei Tcherniak highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration, noting that Getech’s datasets and interpretation expertise significantly accelerate project targeting and reduce subsurface uncertainty.

Full press release is attached:

Getech, a world-leading locator of subsurface resources, has won its first contract in stimulated geologic hydrogen with Geokiln. Backed by Breakthrough Energy Fellows, GeoKiln is advancing Manufactured Subsurface Hydrogen (MSSH™), a first-of-its-kind approach that uses precision heating and geologic systems to produce scalable, low-cost clean hydrogen directly within iron-rich rocks.

This contract marks the launch of Getech’s new service line in stimulated geologic hydrogen (also known as manufactured or engineered hydrogen), building on its decades of successful exploration for subsurface resources including petroleum, minerals, geothermal energy and natural hydrogen. The pilot study with GeoKiln strengthens Getech’s position as a market leader in geologic hydrogen projects, an emerging and potentially transformational energy source in support of the energy transition.

In the project Getech will apply its world-leading gravity and magnetic (G&M) data and interpretation workflows to identify subsurface rock volumes and structural settings most suitable for stimulated geological hydrogen production for a pilot project in Minnesota, US. By calibrating G&M signatures against known hydrogen-generating lithologies, the study supports validation of GeoKiln’s MSSHTM technology and defines the most prospective locations for future appraisal and development. The project is expected to conclude in Q1 2026, with workflow designed for deployment in additional regions. Getech and GeoKiln anticipate to build on the pilot project results with further phases of work.

Chris Jepps, CEO at Getech, commented:

“This project is an important milestone in leveraging our geoscience expertise and high-quality gravity and magnetic dataset for new energy sources. By working with GeoKiln, we can combine our global geophysical insight with their technology to help the first generation of engineered hydrogen projects move from concept to location-specific development plans. GeoKiln’s backing by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy underscores the exciting potential of this new approach to hydrogen production and reinforces Getech’s leading role in subsurface-led hydrogen exploration.”

Alexei Tcherniak, CEO at GeoKiln, said:

“Stimulated geological hydrogen represents one of the most promising frontiers for clean, baseload energy. Working with Getech gives us access to unique global gravity and magnetic data and highly experienced interpreters who understand how to translate that data into actionable targets. This collaboration strengthens our first projects and accelerates the path to scalable, low-carbon hydrogen.”

Background

Stimulated geologic hydrogen leverages naturally occurring reactions between water and iron-bearing minerals deep underground. Instead of relying on subsurface reservoirs to accumulate hydrogen over long timescales, precision heating accelerates these reactions in situ, enabling hydrogen to be produced continuously and extracted directly from the reaction zone.

Early modelling from technologies such as GeoKiln’s MSSH™ suggests the potential to deliver clean hydrogen at around $1.50/kg, while using only a fraction of the energy required by surface-based green hydrogen production and requiring no external water input. The approach also benefits from compatibility with proven oil and gas drilling and completion technologies, allowing projects to leverage existing infrastructure and skill sets – reducing both technical and investment risk.

Interest in stimulated geologic hydrogen has grown rapidly, with organisations including ARPA-E, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, the Clean Air Task Force and the Royal Society identifying it as a promising early-stage technology with potential for dispatchable, low-carbon hydrogen supply.

Breakthrough Energy Fellows’ investment in GeoKiln and its MSSH™ technology gives another strong vote of confidence in this emerging energy resource. Breakthrough Energy Fellows is a programme founded by Bill Gates that backs early-stage climate-tech companies with funding and expert support; earlier cohorts have gone on to raise substantial follow-on investment and build commercially scaled projects.

As momentum builds globally, Getech sees significant opportunity for its subsurface data, geophysical products and geoscience expertise to support regional screening, site selection and risk reduction across the emerging stimulated geological hydrogen sector.