The report Natural Hydrogen Prospectivity in Portugal: A First Approach integrates, for the first time, geological, geophysical, geochemical, and hydrogeological information across mainland Portugal. The aim is to identify locations where various pieces of evidence justify further investigation into the existence of natural systems capable of generating and accumulating hydrogen.
The study combines indicators related to hydrogen generation, its potential accumulation in reservoirs, and the presence of geological formations that can limit its escape (sealing formations). Using a 1 km × 1 km grid and 5,000 Monte Carlo simulations to represent uncertainty, the result is a scientific screening tool that narrows down areas for investigation and highlights where crucial data is missing.
The Southern Portuguese Zone shows the highest median central prospectivity values, followed by the Central-Iberian and Galicia-Trás-os-Montes zones. The Lusitanian and Algarve basins remain relevant for investigating potential reservoir conditions with the necessary sealing.
The central message is both promising and cautious: Portugal now has a transparent national basis to guide field campaigns, enhance geophysical coverage, and test hypotheses with repeated measurements. Continued investment in public data, independent validation, environmental protection, and territorial involvement will be essential to transform geological potential into useful knowledge.
