Texas Groundwater at Risk: The Hidden Truth About "Green" Hydrogen

Questioning the "Green" Hydrogen Revolution

In recent years, "green hydrogen" has been aggressively marketed as a promising clean energy solution in our fight against climate change. But beneath the eco-friendly marketing lies a complex web of environmental concerns, particularly regarding water resources in Texas. This article examines the complete truth about hydrogen production, its permanent impact on water resources, and the long-term implications for irreplaceable underground water reserves.

Understanding "Green" Hydrogen Production

"Green" hydrogen represents a specific production method within the broader hydrogen fuel category. Unlike gray or blue hydrogen, which rely on petroleum and natural gas, green hydrogen is marketed as being produced using alternative energy sources (wind and solar) to power electrolysis—a process that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

However, the claim that this hydrogen is truly "green" requires examining the entire production chain:

The Reality Behind Alternative Energy Infrastructure

The infrastructure required for green hydrogen production carries a substantial environmental footprint:

• Wind turbines require massive concrete foundations—each industrial turbine typically needs 400-800 cubic yards of concrete and 35-45 tons of reinforced steel rebar

• Turbine blades must be completely replaced approximately every 10 years, creating thousands of tons of non-recyclable fiberglass waste

• Solar panels are regularly damaged by hail and windstorms, requiring replacement and creating electronic waste containing toxic materials

• Both technologies require raw materials that are mined using petroleum-powered equipment

• Manufacturing components involves energy-intensive processes typically powered by conventional energy sources

Additionally, wind turbines require substantial petroleum-based lubricants:

• Each turbine needs about 80 gallons of oil for lubrication

• Texas alone has 18,696 turbines requiring approximately 1,495,680 gallons of oil

• The USA's 73,000+ turbines use approximately 5,841,520 gallons of oil

The Science of Water Electrolysis

At the heart of green hydrogen production lies water electrolysis, a process that has been understood scientifically for over 200 years. This process involves:

1. Water (H₂O) is placed in an electrolyzer

2. Electric current from renewable sources is applied

3. The current breaks the chemical bonds in water molecules

4. Hydrogen gas (H₂) collects at the cathode (negative electrode)

5. Oxygen gas (O₂) forms at the anode (positive electrode)

It's important to clarify that electrolysis breaks chemical bonds between atoms rather than splitting the atoms themselves. This process does not create radioactive byproducts or fundamentally alter the water's constituent atoms.

The Permanent Removal of Water from Local Hydrologic Cycles

A critical environmental concern is that water used for hydrogen production is permanently removed from the local hydrologic cycle. The Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts (TAGD) White Paper states: "In this process, the hydrogen is extracted from the water, leaving oxygen as a byproduct and permanently breaking down the water molecule. This means the water is effectively removed from the local hydrologic cycle."

This permanent removal is particularly concerning for Texas because:

• Many hydrogen facilities planned for Texas are intended to produce hydrogen fuel for global shipping and transportation

• Water extracted from Texas aquifers will be permanently exported from the region in the form of hydrogen fuel

• When hydrogen fuel is eventually used, the resulting water vapor will be released wherever that fuel is consumed—potentially across oceans and continents

Texas ranchers and farmers understand this concept well through their experience with non-native species. Just as introduced exotic animals like blackbuck antelope and axis deer from India have permanently altered Texas rangelands, the permanent removal of water molecules creates an irreversible change to our local ecosystems. These non-native deer species, while beautiful and valuable to some, compete with native wildlife for resources, alter vegetation patterns, and permanently change the ecological balance that evolved over thousands of years.

Similarly, when water molecules are permanently removed from Texas aquifers for hydrogen production, they create an ecological void that cannot be naturally filled. Like introducing a non-native species, once this process begins, there's no practical way to reverse it. The water, once converted to hydrogen, is effectively "migrated" from Texas ecosystems permanently—just as the introduction of exotic ungulates has irreversibly changed the composition of Texas wildlife populations and their impacts on the land.

This represents a fundamentally different relationship with water resources than most industrial uses, which typically return water to the local environment in some form after use. The permanent extraction of water molecules disrupts the natural balance of our hydrologic systems just as surely as non-native species disrupt the balance of our rangelands.

Water Evaporation vs. Hydrogen Electrolysis: Fundamental Differences

Natural evaporation and hydrogen electrolysis differ fundamentally:

Natural evaporation:

• Requires relatively little energy (approximately 2,260 kJ/kg of water)

• Keeps water molecules intact throughout the process

• Results in water vapor that remains in the water cycle

• Is part of Earth's natural water cycle that has functioned for billions of years

Hydrogen electrolysis:

• Requires substantially more energy (typically 50-55 kWh/kg of hydrogen produced)

• Breaks water molecules apart into separate hydrogen and oxygen gases

• Permanently removes water from the local ecosystem

• Redistributes water molecules globally

The Energy Inefficiency of Hydrogen Production

From an energy perspective, hydrogen production through electrolysis is fundamentally inefficient:

• The theoretical minimum energy required is 39.4 kWh per kilogram of hydrogen

• Real-world electrolyzers operate at 60-80% efficiency, consuming 50-55 kWh per kilogram

• When used to generate energy, additional efficiency losses occur (hydrogen fuel cells operate at only 40-60% efficiency)

• The round-trip efficiency is roughly 42% in the best-case scenario, compared to over 90% for battery storage technologies

This means nearly 60% of the original energy input is completely wasted in the process.

Water Consumption in Green Hydrogen Production

The water requirements for green hydrogen production are substantial:

• Producing 1 kilogram of hydrogen requires approximately 9 liters of pure water

• A single commercial-scale plant producing 10,000 kg of hydrogen daily would consume about 90,000 liters (23,775 gallons) of purified water each day

• According to the Texas Hydrogen Production Policy Council, by 2050, hydrogen production from electrolysis in Texas could require between 92 to 173 million gallons of water per day

Additional water is required for cooling systems, electricity production, and water purification processes.

The Geographic Mismatch: Water Availability and Alternative Energy

A significant challenge in green hydrogen production is the geographic mismatch between optimal alternative energy resources and water availability:

• West Texas and the Panhandle offer exceptional wind and solar potential

• These same regions face severe water scarcity issues and rely primarily on the slowly depleting Ogallala Aquifer

This creates a difficult dilemma for green hydrogen development, as noted in the TAGD white paper: "In many parts of the state, including West Texas where many of these hydrogen operations are being proposed, groundwater is the only available source of water supply."

Texas Water Crisis: The Real Cost of Hydrogen Production

Texas faces unprecedented challenges to its water resources:

• The Ogallala Aquifer has dropped more than 100 feet over the past century

• Current depletion rates average between 0.5-1.5 feet annually in many areas

• Climate change has altered traditional precipitation patterns and intensified drought cycles

• The state's population is projected to nearly double by 2050

West Texas is ground zero for this water crisis. The Edwards Plateau region depends entirely on groundwater for survival, and local Groundwater Conservation Districts already permit water usage up to—and sometimes beyond—their Modeled Available Groundwater limits.

Follow the Money: Who Profits While Texas Runs Dry?

The federal tax credits now available for hydrogen production are extraordinary:

• At $3 per kilogram of hydrogen produced using low-carbon electricity, these subsidies provide approximately 11 times the value of natural gas at current market prices

• These subsidies will cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars over the next decade

While corporations stand to reap massive profits, Texas communities face depleted aquifers, failing farms, and unsustainable water futures.

Recommendations to Consider for Sustainable Development

To address these challenges, perhaps we should consider:

1. Complete Hydrologic Impact Assessment: Require full disclosure of permanent water removal aspects of hydrogen production

2. Non-Freshwater Mandates: Require facilities to use non-freshwater sources rather than depleting drinking water aquifers

3. Tiered Water Pricing: Implement graduated water pricing for industrial users

4. Regional Carrying Capacity Assessments: Determine maximum sustainable hydrogen production capacity for different regions

Conclusion: The Undeniable Threat to Texas Water Resources

The "green" hydrogen industry presents a serious and irreversible threat to Texas's water security. The science is clear: water molecules split through electrolysis for hydrogen fuel production are permanently removed from local hydrologic cycles.

The severe energy inefficiencies in the process (with round-trip efficiencies of only about 42%) reveal it as fundamentally wasteful, especially concerning water resources. The ongoing drought conditions and already depleted state of Texas aquifers make any permanent water removal for hydrogen production fundamentally unsustainable.

Texas landowners, policymakers, and citizens must recognize that once groundwater is used for hydrogen production, it is effectively lost forever from local ecosystems. The choices made today about hydrogen development will impact Texas's vital underground water resources for generations to come.

If you want to learn more or support this cause, consider visiting the Edwards Plateau Alliance and following them on Facebook.