Analysis of local scale suitability for the development of hydrogen infrastructures using GIS

In the transition to sustainable energy systems, hydrogen infrastructure will likely play a pivotal role in achieving carbon neutrality. Despite its importance, local-scale hydrogen infrastructure development faces significant challenges, particularly in balancing cost-effectiveness against environmental and technical constraints. This study addresses these issues by proposing a geospatial multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) model, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), to assess the suitability of hydrogen infrastructure deployment in the Sauerland region, Germany. The model integrates high-resolution spatial data to provide decision support based on environmental, technical, and economic criteria. To enhance methodological precision regarding infrastructure decision-making, a novel non-dimensional Bundling Divisor (BD) is introduced. The BD adjusts suitability scores by penalizing isolated infrastructure placements while incentivizing pipeline routes that leverage existing infrastructure synergies. Results highlight priority areas for hydrogen infrastructure development that maximize cost-efficiency and minimize environmental impact. The findings emphasize the BD’s effectiveness in operationalizing infrastructure bundling benefits, demonstrating its potential to improve decision-making in energy systems planning. This study advances the field of energy systems planning by presenting a replicable approach for localized hydrogen infrastructure planning.