Arlington, VA -- The Department of the Air Force is teaming up with Renaissance Philanthropy’s Chimaera Fund and industry partners to explore natural, underground hydrogen as a reliable energy source for its bases.
Two commercial exploration companies – HyTerra Ltd. and Helix Exploration PLC, along with hydrogen storage firm Prometheus Hydrogen – were selected by Chimaera to demonstrate the complete geologic hydrogen energy process: extracting the hydrogen from deep underground, storing it safely, transporting it to the base, and finally putting it to work.
This project helps meet a congressional mandate to ensure 99.9% energy availability at critical military sites by 2030. Focusing initially on Malmstrom AFB in Montana and McConnell AFB in Kansas. By developing these local, domestic energy solutions, the Air Force aims to keep its critical operations running securely and smoothly.
HyTerra Ltd., Helix Exploration PLC, and Prometheus Hydrogen will provide the real-world data and technical infrastructure needed for the demonstration. The initiative will leverage active exploration sites located within 200 miles of key Air Force installations to evaluate the viability of local energy resources.
HyTerra Ltd. will also perform the project’s only active-well test to provide critical data on gas flow and production costs, while exploring the potential for direct hydrogen delivery to the Air Force. Helix Exploration PLC will provide foundational geological data from a discovery near Malmstrom AFB to help characterize the region’s energy potential. To ensure safe handling, Prometheus Hydrogen will provide solid-state storage technology that allows the hydrogen to be transported and stored at room temperature.
The next phase of the project will occur over the Spring and Summer of 2026 and will focus on designing the demonstration partnership and exploring opportunities to engage additional AFBs.
About the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance: The Air Force Civil Engineer Center’s Air Force Office of Energy Assurance develops energy solutions that close energy resilience gaps and strengthen our nation's Air Force and Space Force installations at home and abroad. By leveraging the expertise of the energy community, AF OEA builds tailored energy solutions for each installation that are resilient, innovative, and cost-effective. Visit https://www.afcec.af.mil/energy for more information.
About Renaissance Philanthropy: Renaissance Philanthropy is a non-profit focused on enabling ambitious science, technology, and innovation. The Chimaera Fund, housed at Renaissance Philanthropy, is the world’s leading philanthropic effort dedicated to geologic hydrogen -- funding research, building ecosystems, and supporting policy engagement to accelerate the understanding and responsible development of this emerging energy resource.