This is a decisive moment in the effort to tackle the climate crisis and work towards the global goal of reaching Net Zero carbon emissions and limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5°C. It will require nothing short of a total transformation of the energy system that underpins our economies: a paradigm shift, the so-called Energy Transition.

Now, it is more urgent than ever to identify and develop at scale new renewable sources and other alternative sustainable solutions, like hydrogen, which has the potential to help decarbonize several energy-intensive sectors, such as steel and cement, aviation, and shipping.

Green hydrogen, in particular, could be the alternative we’re looking for: it is carbon neutral, non-toxic, and has a very high energy density. However, its production requires a large amount of electricity from renewable sources and ultrapure water, a difficult resource to come by in water-stressed regions.

To assess the feasibility of green hydrogen production in water-scarce locations, we partnered with io consulting, a leading development consultancy, for a study focused on a 2.5 MW Electrolyzer designed to produce 1 ton of hydrogen per day. The project’s location in a Middle Eastern desert meant that the water necessary for green hydrogen production was only available from two sources: high salinity well water, and produced water effluent from a nearby oilfield. 

Leveraging our extensive experience in produced water treatment and effluent reuse on one side and ion removal up to the part per billion level on the other, we designed a customized, three-step process of Pre-treatment, Ion Removal, and Final Polishing. 

Bridging the gap between the water sources’ composition and the feedwater’s required quality was not a simple task. Still, upon solving the technical aspects and defining budgets, our resulting water treatment plant’s process met the stringent requirements so that demineralized water could be used as feedstock for the Electrolyzer’s green hydrogen production.

The customized solution to the study’s water scarcity problem removed a roadblock for this green hydrogen project and, possibly, the efforts toward the Energy Transition in the area. 

Discover more detailed information in our new case study about how tailor-made water treatment solutions can spell success for green hydrogen projects.