JERA Invests in Natural Hydrogen Startup Koloma
The Japanese energy giant is backing the Colorado-based firm to advance its exploration of underground hydrogen resources.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Energy
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JERA has invested in the U.S. natural hydrogen exploration company Koloma through its venture capital arm. This partnership aims to broaden the company's understanding of hydrogen as a potential low-carbon energy source.
Why it matters
The investment supports JERA's transition toward clean energy alternatives as the company pursues its long-term goal of reaching net-zero CO2 emissions. Natural hydrogen is being explored as an extractable resource that could play a significant role in future energy systems.
Koloma utilizes specialized exploration tools and geological data to locate resources. Researchers estimate that 5.6 trillion tonnes of natural hydrogen exist globally beneath the Earth's surface.
The players
JERA
This Japanese company is a major power producer that currently accounts for one-third of Japan's total electricity generation.
Koloma
Based in Denver, Colorado, this company specializes in the exploration and extraction of natural hydrogen resources.
The details
Denver-based Koloma focuses on identifying and extracting natural hydrogen found beneath the surface of the Earth. JERA, which currently generates one-third of Japan's electricity, is working to integrate diverse low-carbon options into its energy portfolio.
Timeline
2015: JERA was originally established.
2050: Target year for JERA to reach net-zero CO2 emissions.
The Big Picture
This move signals a strategic shift toward utilizing geological hydrogen as a primary fuel source rather than relying solely on manufactured hydrogen. It follows the scale of opportunity defined by the U.S. Geological Survey natural hydrogen estimate.
If successful, the development of natural hydrogen could provide a cheaper, low-carbon alternative to traditional energy sources, potentially lowering utility costs over time. Readers should look for future advancements in hydrogen infrastructure that could integrate these resources into the national power grid.
The takeaway
Natural hydrogen represents a largely untapped frontier in the global effort to decarbonize the power sector. Scaling these resources requires continued investment in exploration technology to determine if global underground reserves can be accessed at a commercial scale.
Further reading
Find more industry developments on the United States Energy page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Energy-pedia.
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