Mantle8, a European company focused on natural hydrogen exploration, has announced receiving a €2.06 million grant from the European Union’s Just Transition Fund. This funding is intended to support the development of its natural hydrogen exploration technology platform, based in Grenoble.

Founded in 2024 by Emmanuel Masini, Mantle8 develops geoscience-based technologies designed to identify potential natural hydrogen resources and analyze hydrogen-generating systems in the subsurface. The company currently holds several exploration permits associated with potential natural hydrogen reservoirs.

Technological Development and Research

The grant will support further development and scaling of Mantle8’s technology platform. This includes the expansion of the HOREX pilot project in Comminges, the establishment of an APoGeH geochemistry laboratory in Grenoble, upgrades to GeoLogix for improved subsurface imaging, and continued development of the Simul8 modeling platform. Mantle8 also plans to recruit specialized researchers and conduct techno-economic studies with strategic partners.

All activities supported by the program will take place in Grenoble and the wider Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. While the funding does not directly finance exploration campaigns, it is intended to accelerate the industrial development of Mantle8’s technologies so they can be deployed more efficiently and precisely. This approach aims to transform long-standing geoscience research in Europe into scalable industrial technologies.