Could hydrogen plants help produce fresh water? CQU researchers are finding out
As Australia prepares for a hydrogen-powered future, CQUniversity researchers are exploring whether hydrogen plants could help produce fresh water rather than compete for valuable community water supplies.
Backed by Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program, CQUniversity's Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is advancing its project, Renewable hydrogen production from indirect raw water electrolysis, which aims to make hydrogen production more sustainable by using seawater and other alternative water sources.
Led by Centre for Sustainable Energy researcher Dr Michael Opolot, the project combines water treatment and hydrogen production into a single integrated process that captures and reuses waste heat normally discarded by hydrogen plants.
The approach could help future hydrogen facilities reduce their reliance on potable water supplies while creating an additional source of fresh water for communities and industry.
Dr Opolot said the research rethinks how hydrogen and water systems work together.
"Australia has abundant renewable energy resources, but water remains a precious resource, particularly in regional and drought-prone areas," Dr Opolot said.
"We're investigating whether waste heat from hydrogen production can be used to create the purified water needed by the electrolyser, rather than relying on water supplies that communities already depend on.
"If successful, this approach could help hydrogen producers access sustainable water sources such as seawater while reducing competition for community water supplies."
As part of the project, researchers have completed a series of advanced modelling studies examining how hydrogen plant waste heat can be used to turn seawater into the fresh water required for hydrogen production.
The studies found that key design improvements could increase freshwater production by almost four times while reducing water production costs by more than 80 per cent.
Dr Opolot said the research team also found the integrated system could supply up to two-thirds of its own water requirements during operation, reducing the need for external water supplies.
"Every electrolyser already produces heat that must be removed," Dr Opolot said.
"Our modelling shows that, with the right system design, that heat can be put to work producing fresh water instead of being wasted.
"These results give us greater confidence that integrated hydrogen and water treatment systems can become a practical option for industry.
"The next step is validating those findings through laboratory testing, which will provide industry with the performance data needed to assess the technology at larger scales."
The modelling outcomes will be tested through laboratory trials planned at CQU Gladstone facilities, where equipment procurement is currently underway.
Researchers will test the integrated system using a range of local water sources, including seawater, Fitzroy River water, Awoonga Dam water and recycled effluent water from the Gladstone region.
The resulting data will be used to validate system models and support the design of future large-scale hydrogen production facilities.
CSE Director Professor Jonathan Love said the research reflected the Centre's focus on solving practical challenges facing Australia's energy transition.
"Hydrogen production and water security are both critical issues for Australia's future," Prof Love said.
"This project explores how those challenges can be addressed together through smarter system design.
"Rather than treating water treatment and hydrogen production as separate challenges, we're investigating how they can work together to improve efficiency and sustainability."
Prof Love recently authored an article in the journal Nature Energy, highlighting emerging international research demonstrating how integrated distillation and electrolysis systems can produce hydrogen and fresh water at the same time.
“Integrated systems can reduce reliance on shared water infrastructure, use waste heat productively and potentially provide fresh water alongside hydrogen production," Prof Love said.
"Internationally, we're seeing increasing interest in integrated approaches that connect hydrogen production and water treatment.
"Our project places CQU at the forefront of that research and will generate real-world data to help industry evaluate these technologies with greater confidence."
The project is funded through Australia's Economic Accelerator Ignite program (IG240100364), supported by the Australian Government through the Department of Education.
The research runs from October 2025 to April 2027.
