Green hydrogen market development and water issues

Following the recent trend of interest in hydrogen, there is a growing belief that green and low-carbon hydrogen will play a critical role in the transition to a zero-carbon economy. This is evidenced by the breadth and depth of hydrogen strategies and roadmaps that have emerged around the world in the last years [1–2]. The goals of a new clean hydrogen sector go far beyond decarbonisation. Clean hydrogen offers the opportunity to develop new supply chains, jobs and innovation, and to radically reshape the global economy and the geopolitics of the energy sector more generally. For countries without fossil fuel resources, hydrogen could reduce their dependence on imports or even turn them into energy exporters. For countries that are rich in fossil fuels, hydrogen may be able to be used as part of a just transition to a more sustainable future. Some researchers argue that the growth of green hydrogen within the global economy could lead to such geoeconomic and geopolitical changes, in which new scenarios and interdependencies will be shaped [3,4,5]. According to IRENA [6], green hydrogen will cover 12% of global energy consumption by 2050. This will be due to targeted investments in the sector that will increase economic competitiveness and change the current hydrocarbon-based relationships. But one issue that is at the centre of the debate concerns water resources. Researchers from various scientific fields are comparing and assessing the effect of green hydrogen on the global water resource. The key question is: will there be enough water to meet our future demand for green hydrogen? Various international bodies envisage different predictions. The issue was also discussed at COP 28, where IRENA and Bluerisk launched a document [7], which provides tailored recommendations to guide policymakers and industry towards more water-efficient practices. This includes conducting thorough water risk assessments and setting up stringent water use regulations, to ensure sustainable growth in the hydrogen industry while preserving scarce and shared water resources and minimising disruptions that could arise from climate risks or competition for water use. In addition, representatives from around the world have come together to sign a joint agreement [8] to address the pressing issue of climate change and to codify the world’s common understanding of renewable hydrogen as a potential solution for a net zero future. Regarding the water issu, they state that sustainable water management practices should be implemented in cooperation with the local communities.