Bill Gates Backs Mantle8’s Mission to Revolutionize Hydrogen Discovery with €3.4M Investment

Hydrogen has long been considered a key player in the global shift towards clean energy, with its potential to replace fossil fuels in industries such as transportation, steel production, and energy storage. While much of the hydrogen today is produced through processes like electrolysis or extraction from natural gas, scientists and geologists are now focusing on a less conventional but promising source: naturally occurring hydrogen, or what some refer to as “gold hydrogen.”

This natural resource, formed through geological processes, remains trapped beneath the Earth’s surface in underground reservoirs, similar to oil and natural gas. Extracting it efficiently could provide a low-emission solution for the clean energy transition, relying on already available drilling technologies. One company at the forefront of this effort is Mantle8, a France-based startup developing advanced tools to locate and assess underground hydrogen reserves.

Funding to Accelerate Technological Pilots and Expand Expertise

Mantle8 has recently secured €3.4 million in seed funding, with investments led by Kiko Ventures and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures Europe (BEV-E), alongside contributions from several prominent angel investors. This funding will enable the startup to conduct technological pilots aimed at imaging and quantifying natural hydrogen systems beneath the Earth’s surface. Mantle8 also plans to use the investment to scale its technology across borders and enhance its team by recruiting experts in AI and geochemistry.

Geology-Driven Hydrogen Exploration

Founded by Emmanuel Masini in 2024, Mantle8 is a pioneering company in geology-based natural hydrogen exploration. The company’s team of geologists brings over 20 years of experience to the table, enabling them to deploy a highly scalable and data-driven approach to hydrogen discovery. By combining geophysics, geochemistry, and seismic data, the startup can map hydrogen reserves with unparalleled accuracy and detail, significantly shortening the development timeline and reducing exploration costs.

Mantle8’s goal is to identify and extract 10 million tons of natural hydrogen by 2030. This objective aligns with the European Union’s broader strategy of producing and importing the same amount of hydrogen through renewable sources. By integrating multiple scientific disciplines, Mantle8’s proprietary technology can assess both the quantity and quality of hydrogen, making it possible to pinpoint optimal extraction sites.

Competitive Hydrogen Production Costs

Traditional hydrogen production methods can cost between $4 and $6 per kilogram. Mantle8’s advanced exploration and extraction techniques aim to bring this down to just $0.80 per kilogram. This substantial reduction in cost could transform the economics of clean hydrogen, making it a more viable option for large-scale adoption in the energy market.

“Mantle8’s science-first approach represents a paradigm shift in hydrogen exploration,” said Emmanuel Masini, Founder and CEO of the company. “With the support of our investors, we now have the fuel to move at the necessary pace.” Masini emphasized that the company’s technology enables faster, scalable, and more profitable hydrogen discovery by leveraging close collaborations within the scientific community.

Rob Trezona from Kiko Ventures highlighted the significance of Mantle8’s approach, explaining that traditional methods rely heavily on trial and error, while Mantle8’s technology is rooted in rigorous scientific processes. He noted that previous hydrogen investments by the firm had achieved billion-dollar returns, adding that Mantle8’s potential impact could be even greater.

Carmichael Roberts from Breakthrough Energy Ventures stressed the company’s strong position within Europe due to its geology-driven methods. “Mantle8’s expansive regional knowledge and bottom-up approach give it a unique advantage in realizing affordable hydrogen production,” Roberts stated, underlining the company’s expected role in reshaping the future of hydrogen exploration in the region.