How can green hydrogen be produced without placing additional strain on water resources? This is the question addressed by the reSYNERGY research project, led by the Institute für Social-Ecological Research (ISOE). Together with partners from research and practice in the water and energy sectors, the project is developing a transferable demonstration model for a resilient and sustainable water and energy supply.
The growing hydrogen economy is increasing demand for high-purity water for electrolysis, while at the same time water resources are increasingly under pressure due to drought periods and competing uses. reSYNERGY therefore investigates how treated municipal wastewater can be used as an alternative water source for hydrogen production. The aim is to better integrate existing water and energy infrastructures, thereby strengthening supply security up to 2035.
At the heart of the project is a demonstration plant in which municipal wastewater is treated into ultra-pure water and made suitable for hydrogen production. The technical feasibility, economic viability, and operational reliability of this approach are being assessed. In addition, the project analyses the resilience of large-scale infrastructures to extreme weather events and system disruptions. Simulations will show how water and energy systems can be designed to be more robust and efficient in the future.
In addition to technical aspects, reSYNERGY also examines the institutional and societal framework conditions of a sustainable hydrogen economy. The project develops governance models for cross-sector collaboration between the water sector, energy industry, industry, and municipalities. Participatory processes with relevant stakeholders are intended to strengthen acceptance, feasibility, and long-term transformation perspectives.
Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) leads the research consortium, contributing its expertise in socio-ecological water research and in the analysis of coupled infrastructure systems. Together with the project partners, the institute develops future scenarios for a sustainable water and hydrogen economy and derives policy and planning recommendations.
The project “Cross-Sectoral Use of Municipal Wastewater for the Production of Green Hydrogen to Strengthen Supply Security 2035 (reSYNERGY)” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) under the funding measure “Research for Civil Security.” The project runs from April 2026 to March 2029.
The reSYNERGY research project strengthens the resilience of water and energy systems by using ultra-pure water derived from wastewater for green hydrogen production.
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