Evaluating the sustainability of hydrogen production requires looking beyond simple carbon intensity metrics. A comprehensive assessment must consider water consumption, land use, material requirements, and end-of-life considerations for production equipment.
Life Cycle Assessment
Life cycle assessment provides a rigorous framework for comparing hydrogen production pathways. It accounts for upstream emissions from equipment manufacturing, operational emissions, and downstream impacts including transportation and storage.
Water and Resource Efficiency
Water consumption is a particularly important consideration for electrolysis-based hydrogen production. Advanced system designs that minimize water consumption and enable the use of lower-quality water sources can significantly improve the overall sustainability profile.