Viridien takes stake in Mantle8 to advance natural hydrogen exploration in EMEA
Source： h2-view
Viridien has taken a stake in French natural hydrogen firm Mantle8 to deploy its data and sensing technologies to accelerate hydrogen exploration.
The partnership will give Mantle8 access to its GeoVerse geological database and Sercel WiNG DFU-3C passive seismic sensors for natural hydrogen activities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
Mantle8 said the technology will help image entire hydrogen systems and de-risk drilling programmes.
“Europe is blessed with abundant, low-emission natural hydrogen, and the drive to map these resources and start drilling is stronger than ever. This partnership gives us the ability to reach that goal much faster,” said Emmanuel Masini, founder and CEO of Mantle8.
Mantle8 has already reported some of the highest recorded hydrogen concentrations in France and claimed to have produced the first-ever images of an active hydrogen system.
It was backed earlier this year with €3.4m ($3.9m) in seed funding. It’s targeting hydrogen production costs of $0.80/kg and aims to identify 10 million tonnes of natural hydrogen by 2030 to support EU decarbonisation goals.
Natural hydrogen, formed inside the Earth’s crust and often found alongside helium, is gaining attention as a potentially low-cost, low-impact energy source.
Chris Page, Viridien’s Executive Vice-President, said he sees value in combining the company’s “unrivalled subsurface data” with Mantle8 technology.
“Together, we are enabling faster, more accurate identification of promising natural hydrogen zones, supporting a cleaner energy future for the EMEA region,” he said.
However, natural hydrogen extraction remains at an early stage. Proponents have argued that existing oil and gas technologies could be repurposed to make it viable at scale.