Element One Targets Earth's Oldest Clean Energy Source with Dual-Pathway Natural Hydrogen Strategy
Element One expands a dual natural-hydrogen strategy while increasing and partially closing a LIFE unit private placement.
Rhea-AI Summary
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals (EHCMF) outlined a dual-pathway strategy for natural hydrogen and upsized a previously announced financing. The company is pursuing exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen using subsurface techniques similar to oil and gas drilling, and technology to stimulate hydrogen generation from iron-rich hard rock via accelerated water-rock reactions. Partnerships with Stone to H2 and Columbia University support research into hydrogen stimulation and co-recovery of critical minerals such as magnesium and nickel.
The LIFE private placement has been increased to 7.0 million units at $0.10 per unit, each with one common share and a $0.20 warrant exercisable for 36 months, with a first tranche of 3,500,000 units closed.
Positive
- LIFE private placement increased to 7.0 million units at $0.10 each
- First tranche closed for 3,500,000 units under the upsized offering
- Dual natural-hydrogen strategy covers both subsurface exploration and hard-rock stimulation
- Research partnerships with Stone to H2 and Columbia University on hydrogen and critical minerals
Negative
- Equity financing of up to 7.0 million units implies shareholder dilution
- Attached warrants at $0.20 for 36 months create additional potential future dilution
News Explained
The financing’s first tranche is reported closed, while the release specifies that each warrant’s
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Company is targeting the nearly 100-million-tonne global hydrogen market by advancing both the exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen that could be extracted using methods similar to traditional oil and gas drilling and technology designed to stimulate hydrogen generation from iron-rich hard rock
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 10, 2026) - Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) ("Element One" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an overview of its differentiated, dual-pathway strategy for pursuing opportunities within the global hydrogen market, where annual demand reached nearly 100 million tonnes in 2024 (figures from International Energy Agency's 2025 Global Hydrogen Review).
Element One is pursuing two distinct but complementary approaches to natural hydrogen:
- Exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen that may have migrated through the subsurface and become trapped in geological formations that could be extracted using methods similar to traditional oil and gas drilling; and
- Stimulation of hydrogen generation from iron-rich hard rock, using technology intended to accelerate in real time naturally occurring water-rock reactions known as serpentinization.
Two Pathways to Natural Hydrogen
Natural hydrogen can be produced in several ways, when water reacts with iron-rich minerals found in certain ultramafic rocks, during the natural decay of uranium and thorium in the subsurface and from deep mantle degassing. These natural geological processes can release hydrogen over long periods of time.
In some geological settings, hydrogen may migrate away from its source and accumulate beneath impermeable rock layers. These occurrences can potentially be explored using approaches similar to those employed in conventional subsurface resource exploration.
In other settings, hydrogen may be generated directly within reactive ultramafic rock formations by increasing the contact between water and suitable iron-rich minerals. Element One's technology strategy is designed to investigate whether these naturally occurring reactions can be accelerated through use of proprietary catalysts and controlled to support continuous or repeatable hydrogen generation.
"Our strategy is not dependent on a single theory of how the natural hydrogen industry will develop," commented Brad Kitchen, CEO and President of Element One. "We are advancing the tools required to search for accumulated hydrogen while also supporting the development of technology intended to generate hydrogen directly from reactive hard-rock systems."
"We believe this dual approach is one of Element One's most important competitive advantages. It gives our shareholders exposure to both sides of the emerging natural hydrogen opportunity-exploration and technology-while creating the potential to recover valuable critical minerals from the same geological systems."
Exploring for Hydrogen Accumulations
Element One intends to improve the identification and ranking of geological settings capable of generating, transporting and trapping natural hydrogen.
The Company's intention is to integrate multiple geological and geophysical factors, including:
- The presence of hydrogen-generating source rocks;
- Structural pathways capable of supporting hydrogen migration;
- Potential reservoir rocks;
- Geological traps and seals; and
- Indicators of active or historic subsurface fluid movement.
The Company intends to apply this systematic approach to its existing areas of interest in British Columbia and Alaska and to potential future natural hydrogen opportunities throughout North America.
Stimulating Hydrogen Generation from Hard Rock
Element One is also advancing its interest in proprietary technology designed to stimulate hydrogen-producing reactions within naturally occurring iron-rich rock systems.
Through its agreement with Stone to H2, Inc. and its sponsored research relationship with Columbia University, the Company is supporting laboratory research focused on geologic hydrogen stimulation and the potential co-recovery of technology-critical metals.
Importantly, the same iron-rich rocks capable of producing hydrogen may also contain magnesium, nickel and other valuable minerals. This creates the possibility of developing integrated systems capable of producing clean energy while recovering critical-mineral products from the same feedstock.
LIFE Private Placement Update
The Company announces that it has increased to size of the private placement previously announced on August 9, 2026 to 7.0 million units. Each LIFE unit being issued at
About Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE: EONE) is building an integrated North American natural hydrogen and critical minerals platform focused on advancing secure, domestic energy and critical minerals supply chains. Through a growing portfolio of strategic resource assets, proprietary technologies and industry partnerships, the Company is advancing the exploration, development and commercialization of natural hydrogen, magnesium and other critical minerals. Element One's projects span British Columbia, Washington State and Alaska and are supported by collaborations with world-class research institutions, including Columbia University, and strategic partnerships with industry, Indigenous communities and government.
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For further information visit our website at www.e1-h2.com.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Brad Kitchen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.
Email: bkitchen@e1-h2.com
Telephone: 604.506.7555
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the Company's exploration, testing, engineering, development, commercialization and marketing plans; proposed pilot-scale and demonstration-facility activities; the potential production of magnesium, magnesium compounds, hydrogen and other critical minerals; the scalability and commercial viability of technologies; future field programs; and anticipated timing of the Company's activities.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313832
FAQ
What are the two main pathways Element One is pursuing for natural hydrogen?
Element One is pursuing exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen, targeting geological formations where hydrogen has migrated and become trapped, and stimulation of hydrogen generation from iron-rich hard rock, using proprietary catalysts to accelerate naturally occurring serpentinization reactions for continuous or repeatable hydrogen generation.
How does Element One plan to explore for naturally accumulated hydrogen?
The company intends to integrate multiple geological and geophysical factors, including hydrogen-generating source rocks, structural pathways for migration, potential reservoir rocks, geological traps and seals, and indicators of active or historic subsurface fluid movement. This systematic approach will be applied to areas of interest in British Columbia and Alaska and to future opportunities across North America.
What is the structure of the upsized LIFE private placement units?
Each LIFE unit is being issued at $0.10 and consists of one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire an additional common share at $0.20 for a period of 36 months starting from the date that is 61 days following the closing date of the LIFE offering.
What stage has the LIFE offering reached so far?
The company has increased the LIFE offering to 7.0 million units and has closed the first tranche, consisting of 3,500,000 units. An amended and restated offering document has been filed to reflect the upsize.
How could Element One’s hard-rock hydrogen strategy involve critical minerals?
Element One is supporting laboratory research into stimulating hydrogen-producing reactions within naturally occurring iron-rich rock systems. The same rocks may also contain magnesium, nickel and other valuable minerals, creating the possibility of integrated systems that produce hydrogen while co-recovering critical-mineral products from the same feedstock.