2.3 Techno-Economic Modeling of Hydrogen Hubs and Water Stress
This methodology employs a multi-criteria spatial and techno-economic assessment framework to evaluate the feasibility of green hydrogen production across constrained regional transmission systems. To capture geographic disparities in clean energy curtailment and grid bottlenecks, the analytical model synthesizes regional non-dispatchable generation profiles, localized transmission congestion thresholds, and electrolyzer conversion parameters. Following scenario-based approaches applied to multi-regional grid evaluations, the modeling framework differentiates between mainland networks possessing access to geological storage configurations and isolated island topologies characterized by stringent infrastructure and export limitations (Gkeka-Serpetsidaki et al., 2026). This comparative classification enables the quantification of regional hydrogen output potential and avoided emissions resulting from the capture of curtailed electricity feedstocks. Simultaneously, the spatial architecture incorporates environmental resource indicators to account for local water scarcity. In accordance with geographic information systems and fuzzy logic criteria developed for spatial hydrogen planning, the model couples solar irradiation, wind power density, and water stress parameters to evaluate siting viability under evolving climate projections (Akyüz et al., 2026). Incorporating fuzzy membership functions ensures that regions exhibiting concurrent high renewable potential and severe water stress are systematically identified for specialized technical pathways, such as seawater-based electrolysis configurations, rather than conventional freshwater sourcing. By integrating technical curtailment dynamics with spatial multi-criteria decision frameworks, the methodological protocol rigorously evaluates how regional infrastructure asymmetries govern the operational economics and environmental sustainability of localized hydrogen hubs.