Geospatial identification of thermal energy clusters for the development of local solar hydrogen networks in the manufacturing industry: A case study in southeastern Spain. Toward EU-ready local hydrogen networks

This study presents a geospatial methodology to screen local green hydrogen networks that connect photovoltaic-electrolyzer production sites with nearby manufacturing industries that consume natural gas for thermal processes. The framework integrates industrial thermal demand estimation, usable industrial land for photovoltaic deployment, annual modeling of hydrogen production and planning-level network routing restricted to the road network. In southeastern Spain, the workflow identifies 8811 candidate sites yield 521 GWh/y of potential hydrogen (28.5% of regional industrial gas demand). Connectivity is assessed at 75-300 m service radii and network performance is quantified using route intensity (pipeline km/GWh potentially delivered). The 150 m scenario offers the best reach-efficiency trade-off, making 51.6% of facilities reachable and capturing 158 GWh/y of clustered hydrogen potential, with a median route intensity of 11 km/GWh. The proposed GIS-based workflow provides a replicable screening-level tool for the early planning of short-range hydrogen distribution networks, supporting future techno-economic and regulatory assessments. • GIS-based framework for designing local green hydrogen networks for process heating. • Links PV–electrolyzer supply with nearby industrial thermal demand. • Integrates spatial, technical, and energy indicators for local connectivity. • 150 m service radius balances network reach, efficiency, and route intensity. • Supports early planning of hydrogen distribution networks in the EU framework.