GeoKiln Eyes Minnesota Rocks for In-Situ Hydrogen

A Breakthrough Energy-backed startup commissions subsurface mapping to validate low-cost in-situ hydrogen production in Minnesota

23 Mar 2026

In Minnesota, a patch of ancient rock is being enlisted in a modern energy experiment. GeoKiln, a startup backed by Breakthrough Energy Fellows, has hired Getech, a geoscience firm, to map subsurface formations for a pilot that aims to produce hydrogen not by extracting it, but by making it underground.

The method, known as Manufactured Subsurface Hydrogen (MSSH), uses targeted heating to trigger reactions in iron-rich rocks, releasing hydrogen in situ. GeoKiln claims the fuel could be produced for about $1.50 per kilogram, far below the $5 or more typical for green hydrogen. Unlike conventional approaches, it does not require water inputs and avoids a central uncertainty of natural hydrogen, whether usable deposits exist in sufficient volume or purity.

Getech’s role is to reduce another form of uncertainty, where such reactions might work best. Its gravity and magnetic surveys, commonly used in oil and mineral exploration, will be repurposed to identify rock formations suited to hydrogen generation. The firm says the contract marks the start of a new service line focused on “stimulated geologic hydrogen”.

Minnesota is not a random choice. It sits atop the Mid-Continental Rift, a vast geological structure rich in iron-bearing rocks. The United States Geological Survey has identified the region as promising for hydrogen-related activity. Neighbouring states, including Iowa, Kansas and Michigan, are drawing similar attention from investors and regulators.

Commercial ambitions are forming early. In December 2025 GeoKiln signed a memorandum of understanding with Chiyoda, a Japanese engineering firm, to design a large-scale recovery and purification plant. A Japanese energy company is also involved as a prospective buyer, lending an unusual degree of supply-chain validation to an early-stage technology.

Interest in hydrogen found, or made, underground is rising. Investment in natural hydrogen projects surpassed $1bn in 2025, even as their geological risks remain unresolved. GeoKiln’s approach attempts to sidestep those risks by replacing discovery with engineering.

Whether that trade-off proves cheaper in practice remains to be seen. Heating rocks at scale may introduce its own costs and complications. Still, if the process works as advertised, it could shift hydrogen from a resource to be hunted into one that is manufactured, an appealing prospect in a market still searching for reliable supply.