Deep underground, iron-rich rocks could hold the key to producing hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of conventional fuels. Anning co-founder and CEO Sophie Broun believes that methods borrowed from the oil and gas industry could unlock this energy source.

Broun holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Western Australia, and a master’s degree in Petroleum Geoscience from Royal Holloway, University of London. She spent more than 15 years at US energy giant Chevron.

Her career took her from Australia’s deepwater drilling rigs to the Gulf of Mexico. She served on the board of the Houston Geological Society before developing an interest in geologic hydrogen and co-founding Anning Corporation in 2024, which she now leads as CEO.

Broun is certain that hydrogen can be produced on demand, without the need to search for existing supplies. In this interview with Interesting Engineering (IE), she shares how the process works, why the company is targeting California, and how underground hydrogen could eventually become cheaper than gasoline.

I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, so mechanical engineering was a natural fit. At university, we got to work on everything from HVAC systems to car engines. I also completed a BSc in Applied Mathematics and Physics at the same time.

Coming out of university, I wanted to apply my skills in the most rewarding way possible and take on a big challenge, so I joined Chevron to work on an offshore deep-water drilling rig. As a new engineer, your first job is to learn every part of the rig, from the mud pumps to the drill floor to the decks.

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