Element One Targets Earth'S Oldest Clean Energy Source with Dual-Pathway Natural Hydrogen Strategy
ELEMENT ONE TARGETS EARTH'S OLDEST CLEAN
ENERGY SOURCE WITH DUAL-PATHWAY NATURAL
HYDROGEN STRATEGY
Company is targeting the nearly 100-million-tonne global hydrogen market by advancing both
the exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen that could be extracted using methods
similar to traditional oil and gas drilling and technology designed to stimulate hydrogen
generation from iron-rich hard rock
Vancouver, British Columbia – September 10, 2026 – Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE:
EONE) (“Element One” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an overview of its differentiated, dual-pathway
strategy for pursuing opportunities within the global hydrogen market, where annual demand reached nearly 100
million tonnes in 2024 (figures from International Energy Agency’s 2025 Global Hydrogen Review)
Element One is pursuing two distinct but complementary approaches to natural hydrogen:
Exploration for naturally accumulated hydrogen that may have migrated through the subsurface and
become trapped in geological formations that could be extracted using methods similar to traditional oil and
gas drilling; and
Stimulation of hydrogen generation from iron-rich hard rock , using technology intended to accelerate in
real time naturally occurring water-rock reactions known as serpentinization.
Two Pathways to Natural Hydrogen
Natural hydrogen can be produced in several ways, w hen water reacts with iron-rich minerals found in c ertain
ultramafic rocks, during the natural decay of uranium and thorium in the subsurface and from deep mantle degassing.
These natural geological processes can release hydrogen over long periods of time.
In some geological settings, hydrogen may migrate a way from its source and accumulate beneath impermea ble rock
layers. These occurrences can potentially be explor ed using approaches similar to those employed in co nventional
subsurface resource exploration.
In other settings, hydrogen may be generated direct ly within reactive ultramafic rock formations by in creasing the
contact between water and suitable iron-rich minera ls. Element One’s technology strategy is designed t o investigate
whether these naturally occurring reactions can be accelerated through use of proprietary catalysts an d controlled to
support continuous or repeatable hydrogen generation.
“Our strategy is not dependent on a single theory of how the natural hydrogen industry will develop ,”
commented Brad Kitchen, CEO and President of Element One . “ We are advancing the tools required to search
for accumulated hydrogen while also supporting the development of technology intended to generate hydr ogen
directly from reactive hard-rock systems.”
“We believe this dual approach is one of Element On e’s most important competitive advantages. It gives our
shareholders exposure to both sides of the emerging natural hydrogen opportunity—exploration and techn ology—
while creating the potential to recover valuable cr itical minerals from the same geological systems.”
Exploring for Hydrogen Accumulations
Element One intends to improve the identification and ranking of geological settings capable of generating,
transporting and trapping natural hydrogen.
The Company’s intention is to integrate multiple geological and geophysical factors, including:
The presence of hydrogen-generating source rocks;
Structural pathways capable of supporting hydrogen migration;
Potential reservoir rocks;
Geological traps and seals; and
Indicators of active or historic subsurface fluid movement.
The Company intends to apply this systematic approach to its existing areas of interest in British Columbia and
Alaska and to potential future natural hydrogen opportunities throughout North America.
Stimulating Hydrogen Generation from Hard Rock
Element One is also advancing its interest in propr ietary technology designed to stimulate hydrogen-pr oducing
reactions within naturally occurring iron-rich rock systems.
Through its agreement with Stone to H2, Inc. and it s sponsored research relationship with Columbia Uni versity, the
Company is supporting laboratory research focused o n geologic hydrogen stimulation and the potential c o-recovery
of technology-critical metals.
Importantly, the same iron-rich rocks capable of pr oducing hydrogen may also contain magnesium, nickel and other
valuable minerals. This creates the possibility of developing integrated systems capable of producing clean energy
while recovering critical-mineral products from the same feedstock.
LIFE Private Placement Update
The Company announces that it has increased to size of the private placement previously announced on A ugust 9,
2026 to 7.0 million units. Each LIFE unit being issued at $0.10 per unit consists of one common share in the cap ital
of the company and one 20 cent share purchase warrant . Each warrant issued under the LIFE offering shall entitle
the holder thereof to acquire an additional common share at a price of 20 cents for a period of 36 months from the
date that is 61 days following the closing date of the LIFE offering. The Company has filed an amended and restated
offering document to reflect the Offering upsize. The Company further announces that it has closed the first tranche
of the Offering of 3,500,000 Units of the Company.
About Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp. (CSE : EONE) is building an integrated North American na tural
hydrogen and critical minerals platform focused on advancing secure, domestic energy and critical minerals supply
chains. Through a growing portfolio of strategic resource assets, proprietary technologies and industry partnerships,
the Company is advancing the exploration, developme nt and commercialization of natural hydrogen, magne sium
and other critical minerals. Element One’s project s span British Columbia, Washington State and Alask a and are
supported by collaborations with world-class resear ch institutions, including Columbia University, and strategic
partnerships with industry, Indigenous communities and government.
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For further information visit our website at www.e1-h2.com .
On behalf of the Board of Directors
Brad Kitchen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Element One Hydrogen & Critical Minerals Corp.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 604.506.7555
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information
includes, but is not limited to, statements regardi ng the Company’s exploration, testing, engineering, development, commercialization and
marketing plans; proposed pilot-scale and demonstra tion-facility activities; the potential production of magnesium, magnesium compounds,
hydrogen and other critical minerals; the scalability and commercial viability of technologies; future field programs; and anticipated timing of the
Company’s activities.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Re gulation Services Provider accepts responsibility f or the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.