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It was billed as the world’s biggest natural hydrogen conference – and H-Nat in Paris last week certainly delivered some big backing for the near zero-carbon energy source.

As industry media house Akap Energy reported, the keynote address by global consultancy McKinsey took centre stage.

It argued that if the first commercial natural hydrogen wells began flowing in 2026, the molecule could rapidly become one of the world’s cheapest clean hydrogen sources at US$1–3/kg, with lifecycle emissions on par with green hydrogen.

Akap reported McKinsey’s modelling suggested "natural hydrogen could meet 10–20% of global H₂ demand by 2050, unlock 13–26mmtpa of currently uneconomic end-use sectors, and materially lower the clearing price for clean hydrogen, accelerating industrial uptake."

"McKinsey’s message was clear: subsurface validation is the last missing piece – once flow rates are proven, natural hydrogen becomes a central accelerant of the clean-molecule transition and a strategic hedge alongside green and blue hydrogen."

A price point of $1–3/kg would be competitive with blue hydrogen and materially cheaper than most green hydrogen pathways, while achieving lifecycle emissions comparable to or better than green hydrogen.

McKinsey made the point they were not geologists and were simply putting forward a scenario where wells flowed next year. Their message was "pragmatic but optimistic": if wells flow, natural hydrogen becomes a central accelerant in the energy transition.

Akap said one of McKinsey’s most important conclusions was that natural hydrogen had the potential to unlock 13–26 Mtpa of currently “priced-out” hydrogen demand.

"Today there are clear, economically viable markets for around 8 Mtpa of clean hydrogen—primarily in refineries, ammonia and regulated sectors. In short, natural hydrogen radically expands the viable demand curve."

The full Akap summary of the McKinsey address is here.

Meanwhile, Akap said the overall conference theme highlighted a sector moving rapidly from scientific curiosity toward commercial reality.

It said: "A clear set of themes emerged: first-mover advantage now matters, with well-funded groups like Gold Hydrogen, Max Power, Thor, 45-8 Energy and H2Au racing to validate natural hydrogen systems in Australia, North America, Europe and Africa."

Confirmation of cost competitiveness; rapidly advancing subsurface science; helium finds near natural hydrogen adding attractive upside; and more governments creating supportive regulatory environments meant the industry had plenty to be pleased about.

Meanwhile, Gold Hydrogen is waiting for lab results from its new drilling campaign on its Yorke Peninsula tenement. Ramsay 3, its third well, was spudded earlier this month. Major testing for commercial pilot project planning will be carried out in Q1 next year.

H-Nat shout-out for Gold Hydrogen as industry confidence grows