Philippines Finds Natural Hydrogen – A Clean Energy Potential

Hydrogen is considered one of the cleanest fuels because it only produces water when it burns.

To reach global Net Zero emissions by 2050, the world will need more than 500 million tons of green hydrogen. Today, most hydrogen is made using fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide. Only about 4% comes from clean energy sources, but producing it this way is still expensive and energy-intensive.

In the Philippines, a cluster of natural hydrogen seepage was recently discovered in the Nagsasa field in Zambales Province, about 100 kilometres northwest of Manila.

A study published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy in March 2025, titled “High hydrogen outgassing from an ophiolite-hosted seep in Zambales, Philippines,” measured the hydrogen flow from these natural seeps and springs.

The seeps are found in rocks called ophiolites, where hydrogen is produced when water reacts with certain minerals. Researchers from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute found that one of the seeps in Nagsasa releases at least 808 tons of hydrogen per year, making it one of the highest natural hydrogen flow rates ever recorded.

For comparison, a natural hydrogen source in Albania releases about 200 tons of hydrogen per year, while the well-known seep in Mali produces only about 45 tons annually. At 808 tons per year, the Nagsasa is 18 times more productive than Mali’s and four times more than Albania’s, which was previously considered the largest natural hydrogen source.

First discovered in 2006, the Nagsasa seep has a gas mixture of 58.5% hydrogen and 38.7% methane. Scientists say tapping into this free and naturally available energy could greatly benefit nearby communities, especially San Antonio, which has around 10,000 off-grid households.

Experts believe the current seep may be just a small outlet of a much larger underground reservoir of natural hydrogen, offering massive potential for clean energy production. Both the Nagsasa seep and the Mali seep are associated with ophiolite rock, a piece of the oceanic tectonic plates that have been pushed into the continental plate. These iron-rich rocks naturally produce hydrogen through chemical reactions with water.

However, the Nagsasa seep is unique because the way it generates hydrogen appears to be different. Even more promising is that the Philippines has many other ophiolite formations that could host similar hydrogen seeps, potentially unlocking a new clean energy resource for the country.

According to the “Fuel Cells” report, the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) ‘s recent announcement to open bidding for natural hydrogen exploration has attracted strong international interest. Companies from Australia, Europe, and North America are lining up to participate in the country’s exploration and development of hydrogen resources.

The DOE has identified two areas for hydrogen exploration: PDA-PH-1 and PDA-PH-2. PDA-PH-1 covers 134,096 hectares in Zambales Province, including the Nagsasa field, while PDA-PH-2 spans 96,439 hectares in Pangasinan Province, where parts of the Zambales ophiolite are also exposed. These areas are specifically being explored for naturally occurring, or “geologic,” hydrogen, setting the Philippines apart from countries like Japan and China that focus on producing hydrogen through electrolysis.

As of March 2025, the DOE has received three valid bids for PDA-PH-1 and two for PDA-PH-2. The department is reviewing the proposals and is expected to award exploration contracts soon (Reitsma, 2025).

With a population of 115 million, the Philippines relies heavily on fossil fuels. Coal and oil make up 67% of its energy mix. To reduce this dependence, the country aims to shift toward cleaner energy sources, including hydrogen, to increase the share of renewables to 50% by 2050.

This discovery of natural hydrogen sources in the Philippines could be groundbreaking for the country as it seeks to expand electricity reach, find clean and renewable energy sources, and reach its Net Zero goals.

The study shows that naturally occurring, or geologic, hydrogen could be a valuable energy source, especially in rural areas. In particular, the hydrogen seep studied could help meet the power needs of the nearby town.

Since these hydrogen-rich rock formations (ophiolites) are often found in remote parts of the Philippines, they could improve energy access in those regions.