Forecasting water demand for hydrogen with a smart tool to plan infrastructure
At a glance
Sunwater, an Australian water service provider, partnered with GHD to assess how water could be used to support hydrogen production. Using GHD’s Water for Hydrogen Calculator and Techno-Economic Water Analytics Model, we helped Sunwater explore a range of demand scenarios, build flexibility into their investment plans and support the assessment of uncertainties for long-term servicing of emerging decarbonisation industries.
Sunwater, an Australian water service provider, partnered with GHD to assess how water could be used to support hydrogen production.
The challenge
Water is essential to hydrogen production, particularly green hydrogen, however understanding how much will be needed and when, is complex. For Sunwater, the challenge was to plan for future demand with enough flexibility to adapt as the market evolves. They needed to understand how different types of hydrogen projects would impact water needs and to evaluate when and where to invest in infrastructure.
Sunwater wanted to be ready to respond without locking themselves into a single approach. They were looking for a way to assess risk, explore different futures and stage their investments accordingly.
Sunwater wanted to be ready to respond without locking themselves into a single approach. They were looking for a way to assess risk, explore different futures and stage their investments accordingly.
Our response
To meet this need, GHD brought forward our Water for Hydrogen Requirements Calculation Tool and Techno-Economic Water Analytics Model, decision-support tools designed to estimate the volume of water required for hydrogen production under a range of technical and economic conditions.
This calculation tool considers the hydrogen production and cooling water requirements, water sources (including recycled water), treatment needs and production scale to help water utilities and infrastructure owners align planning with real-world opportunities. This tool has been expanded to include the water needs (mainly cooling) for conversion of hydrogen to select carriers (ammonia, synthetic methane, liquid hydrogen).
To help Sunwater achieve their goals, we used the calculation tool as a foundation to build a broader probabilistic techno-economic demand model. The model incorporated economic market insights by identifying likely hydrogen proponents and industry drivers in the region, adding real-world context to the assessment.
Together, these tools helped Sunwater explore 17 distinct scenarios, each representing a different growth trajectory for the hydrogen industry, from acceleration to delay.
This calculation tool considers the hydrogen production and cooling water requirements, water sources (including recycled water), treatment needs and production scale to help water utilities and infrastructure owners align planning with real-world opportunities. This tool has been expanded to include the water needs (mainly cooling) for conversion of hydrogen to select carriers (ammonia, synthetic methane, liquid hydrogen).
To help Sunwater achieve their goals, we used the calculation tool as a foundation to build a broader probabilistic techno-economic demand model. The model incorporated economic market insights by identifying likely hydrogen proponents and industry drivers in the region, adding real-world context to the assessment.
Together, these tools helped Sunwater explore 17 distinct scenarios, each representing a different growth trajectory for the hydrogen industry, from acceleration to delay.
The impact
With a tailored view of how water sources might support hydrogen production, Sunwater is now equipped to guide infrastructure planning decisions that are scalable, low risk and aligned with long-term sustainability goals.
“This initiative demonstrates that collaboration across disciplines and a willingness to embrace uncertainty can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth,” says Matthew Brannock, Water Treatment and Desalination Service Line Leader.
The calculation tool and techno-economic model are already proving useful for other utilities, municipalities and industrial clients who are exploring how to support the hydrogen economy. By modelling demand based on specific project types and locations, the tool helps them assess feasibility, prioritise investment and ensure water systems are ready to support decarbonisation.
“This initiative demonstrates that collaboration across disciplines and a willingness to embrace uncertainty can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth,” says Matthew Brannock, Water Treatment and Desalination Service Line Leader.
The calculation tool and techno-economic model are already proving useful for other utilities, municipalities and industrial clients who are exploring how to support the hydrogen economy. By modelling demand based on specific project types and locations, the tool helps them assess feasibility, prioritise investment and ensure water systems are ready to support decarbonisation.