U.S. Air Force Explores Geologic Hydrogen for On-Site Power Generation (S&P Global)

The U.S. Air Force is evaluating the potential of geologic hydrogen as a secure, on-site energy source for military installations, making it one of the first government bodies to explore the resource. The initiative is led by the Office of Energy Assurance, tasked with improving the resilience of base power systems.

Speaking at the Hydrogen Americas Summit in Washington, D.C., Richard Hartman, the office’s Chief Innovation Officer, emphasized that geologic hydrogen could provide a cost-competitive alternative to fossil fuels. “It just doesn’t pencil out for us” to use more expensive manufactured hydrogen pathways such as electrolysis or autothermal reforming, Hartman said.

Unlike manufactured hydrogen, naturally occurring hydrogen avoids many of the costs of production, transport, and storage. The U.S. Geological Survey has identified potential accumulations in regions including the Four Corners, the Midcontinent Rift, California’s coast, and the Eastern seaboard. Startups such as Koloma Inc. have already begun exploratory drilling.

The Air Force has not yet issued formal solicitations but is engaging stakeholders and exploring partnerships for drilling, hydrogen-capable turbines, and backup fuel cells. However, regulatory uncertainty remains around whether geologic hydrogen qualifies as a leasable mineral under federal law.

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