Underground iron deposits in Western Australia could supply vast clean hydrogen
Scientists at Edith Cowan University have shown that magnetite in the Pilbara region can naturally produce hydrogen, and that the process can be amplified with water injection.
A study by researchers at Edith Cowan University has identified magnetite-rich rocks beneath Western Australia as a potential source of naturally occurring hydrogen. Laboratory tests replicating temperatures of 200 °C and high pressure showed that magnetite releases hydrogen when reacting with water, and that injecting a fluid into the formations can markedly raise yields. Lead author Kaveh Moghanirahimi noted the Pilbara hosts some of the world’s largest banded iron formations, offering a prospect for a homegrown, low-emission energy supply and possible export market.
Associate Professor Alireza Keshavarz emphasized the scale could benefit Australia for generations. Professor Stefan Iglauer added that the findings bridge laboratory work and real geological settings, stressing that rock structure, fractures and permeability govern hydrogen generation. The research appears in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy and points to a new avenue for energy independence and climate-friendly power.
Why it matters
If viable, the discovery could give Australia a large, low-carbon hydrogen resource for domestic use and export.
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