Methane hydrates: Overview
A giant fuel store locked in ice, barely touched
What this tile covers Methane locked in ice under the seafloor and permafrost; very large but barely tapped. Share of use 0% share of world energy supply (2024)Share of world total energy supply, 2024 (latest year where noted). Denominator is the Energy Institute Statistical Review 2025 total of 592.2 EJ (physical energy content method). Flows EI omits (traditional biomass via WBA, solar and geothermal heat, food energy) are set against the same 592.2 EJ, so shares sum to slightly more than 100%. Only short production tests have been run; no commercial output. Source: Current perspectives on gas hydrate resources (Boswell and Collett, Energy and Environmental Science 4), Royal Society of Chemistry.
Key facts
| Origin | Fossil (ancient solar) |
| Renewable | No |
Included from the reference tables
- Methane hydrates
Also in Fossil stores
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