The global rush towards green hydrogen, championed as a climate solution, faces a critical paradox: its production demands significant water, creating severe regional water crises. Producing a single kilogram of green hydrogen requires 20-30 liters of raw water, yet optimal renewable energy regions like North Africa and the Middle East are severely water-stressed.
Scaling the global hydrogen economy will skyrocket water demand in areas least able to supply it, risking agricultural stability and domestic drinking supplies in developing economies targeted by strategies like the EU's REPowerEU. While desalination is economically viable, it poses a deep ecological bottleneck due to the discharge of millions of tonnes of toxic brine into fragile marine ecosystems. Policymakers must implement strict international regulatory frameworks governing the water-energy nexus, mandating non-primary freshwater sources for investments in arid regions, and pivoting to wastewater reclamation. Climate finance must link capital to sustainable water infrastructure and technology transfer, ensuring host countries secure their water future. Energy and water security are indivisible; ignoring this risks regional water wars.
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