Hydrogen production from wastewater: technology readiness, economic and environmental assessment, and scale-up challenges with mitigation strategies
Document Type
Review
Publication Date
5-1-2026
Abstract
Hydrogen production from wastewater can help meet the increasing demand for clean energy. This review shows that the amount of hydrogen produced varies depending on the kind of wastewater. It also points out that industrial streams have a higher potential than municipal or home sources. Studies show that producing hydrogen from wastewater can cost at least three times more than conventional methods. Electricity emissions significantly impact life cycle assessment (LCA) results, whereas stack cost and degradation prevail in techno-economic analysis (TEA) analysis. Wastewater-based hydrogen production technologies range from proof-of-concept to near-industrial readiness, with Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) and Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) being the most advanced but still facing scale-up challenges. Finally, we offer policy suggestions and outlooks for integrating wastewater into hydrogen energy systems.
Keywords
Life cycle assessment (LCA), Scale-up strategies, Techno-economic analysis (TEA), Technology readiness level (TRL), Wastewater-to-hydrogen
Publication Title
Fuel
ISSN
0016-2361
DOI
10.1016/j.fuel.2025.138023
Recommended Citation
Liang, Y. Y. and Shahabuddin, M., "Hydrogen production from wastewater: technology readiness, economic and environmental assessment, and scale-up challenges with mitigation strategies" (2026). Research Publications (2026 to 2030). 113.
https://knova.um.edu.my/research_publications_2026_2030/113
Volume
411
Publisher
Elsevier