New methodology for identifying sustainable freshwater resources for the production of green hydrogen

Scholz, Miklas

Abstract

Managing sustainable and digital transformations in the water industry is a challenge. The identification of freshwater resources for green hydrogen production is necessary for the energy transition away from fossil fuels such as oil and gas. This can be achieved through the sustainable flood retention basin (SFRB) concept for identifying optimal locations for the retention of surface water. This unbiased concept helps in conflict resolution between stakeholders with water rights. Moreover, it serves as a simple tool to produce a digital water supply atlas based on dimensionless parameters with the short names’ population density, location advantage, precipitation, groundwater level, water rights, SFRB, excess running water and proximity to networks. While the first five parameters can be determined during a desk study, the last three parameters require site visits for verification purposes. Germany was used as a representative case study country to demonstrate the proposed methodology to obtain a water atlas based on mapped weighted values. The Kaiserstuhl in Germany served as a worked calculation example indicating well above average potential for water storage using existing retention basins. The water atlas can be used to supplement a (green) hydrogen atlas, supporting decision-makers in building hydrogen infrastructure.

Citation

Scholz, M. (2024). New methodology for identifying sustainable freshwater resources for the production of green hydrogen. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering, 17(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2024.2321612

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 16, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Feb 21, 2024
• Publication Date: Dec 31, 2024
• Deposit Date: Mar 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 4, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Sustainable Engineering
• Print ISSN: 1939-7038
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1-7
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2024.2321612
• Keywords: General Engineering