Evaluating the economic influence of water sources on green hydrogen production: A cost analysis approach

The production of green hydrogen requires significant water usage, making the economic evaluation of different water sources crucial for optimizing the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH). This study examines the economic impact of using seawater, groundwater, grid water, industrial wastewater, and rainwater for hydrogen production through PEM electrolysis considering the water abstraction, transport, treatment, and storage costs across various plant sizes (1 MW, 10 MW, 20 MW, 50 MW, and 100 MW) were assessed and a sensitivity analysis on electricity prices was conducted. Findings reveal that while water-related costs are minimal (<2% of LCOH), transport distance significantly impacts LCOH, sometimes exceeding 10%. Future studies should integrate life cycle analysis and sustainability criteria beyond economic factors, considering social, ecological, and technical dimensions. • Novel economic analysis of five water sources for green hydrogen production. • Water costs are minimal, contributing less than 2% to hydrogen production costs. • Transport distance can increase hydrogen costs by over 10%. • Electricity prices are the primary factor influencing hydrogen production costs.