Mantle8, a French geoscience company focused on natural hydrogen exploration, and Viridien, an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company, have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate hydrogen exploration across the Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) region, which is underpinned by Viridien securing a strategic investment in Mantle8.

The partnership gives Mantle8 access to GeoVerse, Viridien’s world-leading geological database, to support natural hydrogen exploration in EMEA. In addition, Mantle8 has selected Sercel, Viridien’s Sensing & Monitoring business, to provide its WiNG DFU-3C passive seismic sensors to image subsurface hydrogen-generating systems with greater precision and efficiency.

As the race to prove up Europe’s extensive natural hydrogen reserves gains momentum, this partnership will enable faster, real-world testing, refinement and optimisation of the technology tailored to pinpoint active hydrogen generation systems. Through the combination of Viridien’s unparalleled subsurface data and Sercel’s advanced sensor technology, Mantle8 will accelerate its prospect generation and scanning for high-potential zones across EMEA.

“Europe is blessed with abundant, low-emission natural hydrogen, and the drive to map these resources and start drilling is stronger than ever. This partnership gives us the ability to reach that goal much faster,” said Emmanuel Masini, Founder and CEO of Mantle8. “Access to Viridien’s GeoVerse database gives us the scale of data needed to fuel our prospect generation and sharpen our targeting of promising zones in line with Mantle8’s thesis. Building on that foundation, deployment of Sercel WiNG DFU-3C sensors provides the capability to image entire hydrogen systems and de-risk drilling programs.”

This strategic partnership with Viridien reinforces Mantle8’s position as the technology leader in Europe’s natural hydrogen sector at a time when the USA, Russia, Australia and others are mobilizing significant funding to progress their domestic efforts in this field.

“Viridien is committed to working with partners to develop knowledge and solutions that will accelerate the energy transition. Natural hydrogen is one area, alongside geothermal energy, critical mineral exploration and carbon storage, where our advanced geoscience and data science technology can support the global effort to meet net-zero targets,” said Chris Page, EVP, New Business Development, Viridien. “We see value in collaborating with Mantle8 to combine Viridien’s unrivalled subsurface data, our Sercel cutting-edge sensing solutions, and Mantle8’s innovative exploration technologies. Together, we are enabling faster, more accurate identification of promising natural hydrogen zones, supporting a cleaner energy future for the EMEA region.”

The deal builds on Mantle8’s track record of innovation and early success. Having raised a €3.4 million seed round from Kiko Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Europe earlier this year, the company then confirmed some of the highest recorded hydrogen concentrations at its Comminges prospect in the French Pyrenees. Utilizing Sercel WiNG DFU-3C sensors, combined with Mantle8’s HOREX® multiphysics imaging technology, the first-ever images of an entire active hydrogen system have been produced. These results validate Mantle8’s proprietary exploration technology and reinforce the commercial case for natural hydrogen as a low-cost, low-carbon energy source. Full results are expected in September 2025.

Sercel WiNG DFU-3C passive seismic sensors can be used to image subsurface hydrogen-generating systems with greater precision and efficiency (image courtesy of Sercel).

About Mantle8:

Mantle8 is a natural hydrogen exploration company based in France. Founded by Emmanuel Masini in 2024, Mantle8 brings together a team of geoscientists with 20 years of experience in the field that has previously worked together as M&U, a geology research and consulting company. Mantle8 has developed geoscience-based technologies that detect the best natural hydrogen locations with world-first accuracy.

Mantle8’s validated technologies visualise the entire hydrogen-generating system, including the amount and quality of hydrogen present, at an unparalleled level of detail. The company already holds multiple exploration permits for some of the largest natural hydrogen reservoirs close to demand and works towards making €0.80/kg hydrogen a reality. Find out more: https://mantle8.com