Will Gemini-1 Turn Hydrogen Potential Into Proof?

SKYRE promotes field-ready hydrogen cleanup units; explorers eye potential, but costs and wellhead performance remain unproven.

9 Jul 2025

Natural hydrogen projects have drawn renewed attention after US-based SKYRE introduced its H2RENEW Gemini-1 series, modular systems designed to purify and compress hydrogen directly at geologic wells. The company says the units can achieve 99.999 per cent purity through solid-state electrochemical separation and compression. SKYRE presents the approach as a way to reduce logistics, cut costs and speed up pilot projects by locating processing close to the wellhead.

Explorers including Koloma, which has raised large-scale funding and applied to drill in basalt formations in Idaho, are seen as potential early adopters if the units meet expectations. Activity in Kansas has also been reported, though public confirmation is limited. To date, no developer has announced using the Gemini-1 system at a natural hydrogen site.

SKYRE claims that under favourable conditions the technology could help reduce hydrogen production costs to around $1 per kilogram. Independent studies of such figures in geologic hydrogen settings have not yet been published. Gas flows, impurities and reservoir stability vary widely, making reliable projections difficult.

The broader sector remains in an early phase. Reservoirs are still being mapped, and questions remain about continuity of supply. Regulation and environmental oversight are at an early stage. Industry experts often cite a single long-running project in Mali, where hydrogen is used locally, but whether it qualifies as a commercial model is debated.

Despite the uncertainties, analysts note the direction of technology. Modular systems that reliably deliver purified, compressed hydrogen could shorten pilot timelines and lower risks for developers, drawing more capital into the sector. For now, the key test will be documented wellhead deployments with consistent output, verified purity and credible economics. Until then, natural hydrogen remains an emerging prospect rather than an established resource.