Many people believe that balance is key in life, but they can also attest that attaining that balance is one of the most difficult things to do. This is true across various aspects of life, including a carbon footprint. France has achieved lower carbon emissions, but is still above its target. However, a hydrogen deposit of 46 million tons that it found in 2023 could be the answer to its problem. Now, France has officially begun to drill to see what’s really underground. Will it be what they hoped for?
A lowering trend that is still above target
The French have long been stereotypically perceived as a passionate nation, and their passion for sustainability is quite evident. In 2019, France established its Energy and Climate Act, under which the country’s National Low-Carbon Strategy outlined interim climate targets. According to a report by Climate Scorecard, these interim climate targets include:
- Achieving a minimum of 55% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030
- Substantial investment in nuclear power
- Investing in other renewable energy in conjunction with nuclear power, such as offshore wind
According to France’s Statistical Data and Studies Department (SDES), 2023 emissions indicated a decline, but were still above France’s target. The 2023 carbon footprint was approximately 644 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Carbon-heavy sectors, such as industry, transport, and agriculture, were the primary drivers of these high emission levels.
2023 also marked the year that France found a 46-million-ton hydrogen deposit, giving the country a new glimmer of hope of getting back on track to achieving its climate targets.
France found a 46-million-ton hydrogen deposit in 2023
In 2023, Française de l’Énergie (FDE) discovered a substantial natural hydrogen deposit in Pontpierre, a town located in France’s Lorraine region. The deposit was discovered in Folschviller 1A, which is one of the company’s existing wells in the region. Folschviller 1A was originally drilled for a coal-bed methane research study in 2006.
This hidden hydrogen treasure beneath France was found to have a 15% concentration at a depth of 1,093 meters (0.679 miles). Calculations led FDE to project that at a depth of 3,000 meters (1.864 miles), the hydrogen concentration levels would be 98%. Now, the next step is drilling to see what’s really underground.
Now drilling begins to see what’s really underground
In a stockmarket statement released in December 2025, FDE commented the following:
“FDE is… taking a new step forward by directly targeting the hydrogen formation zone underground in order to measure the concentration of hydrogen at a depth of 3,000 meters and more accurately access the associated volumes.”
The PTH-2 project’s drilling officially commenced in December 2025, and estimations indicate that drilling should only take three months. However, the PTH-2 project will last for another two years to allow adequate measurement, analysis, and data interpretation. The PTH-2 project is done in collaboration with FDE’s partners, namely:
- France’s national geographic survey (BTGM)
- The National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS)
- The University of Lorraine
- Solexperts, a geological engineering company
Naturally, a drilling and research project such as this one does not come cheap. Fortunately, the entire project received €8.8 million in funding, which was approximately $10.4 million at the time. FDE also wants to explore the rest of the Lorraine basin with hopes of searching for hydrogen deposits in other existing wells in the area, and has applied for a permit to do so.
Should the data from the PTH-2 deliver positive results, France’s energy security will be entirely reformed. Natural hydrogen will help the country cost-effectively decarbonize its carbon-heavy sectors. Additionally, the repurposing of existing wells in the Lorraine region will significantly boost the local economy through job creation, among others. The potential of this underground treasure is endless. Experts have also discovered a hidden hydrogen chamber in Latin America, showing that hope is hidden where you least expect it.
