Leveraging remote sensing, geophysical methods and AHP model to determine optimal locations for green hydrogen production on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast

Abstract Global efforts to decarbonize energy systems have intensified the search for renewable alternatives due to reduce rapid climate change, green hydrogen is considered one of the best intriguing solutions. This research integrates remote sensing, GIS, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and vertical electrical survey to identify optimal locations for production of green hydrogen along Egypt’s Mediterranean coast. Remote sensing and GIS provide spatial and environmental data on surface, AHP supports multi-criteria decision-making, and VES validates the results insights. The methodology employs eight critical parameters: distance to sea, slope, geology, land use/land cover, elevation, distance to roads, wind speed, and air temperature. These parameters were evaluated by utilizing analytic hierarchy process with a consistency ratio of 0.079 which confirms correctness of the weightage method. The resulting suitability map categorizes potential sites into four classes: least suitable, marginally suitable, moderately suitable, and most suitable, which represents 3.5% of the area. Analysis revealed that the northern part of Marsa Matruh represents the most favorable location for green hydrogen production. Additionally, a geoelectrical survey using eleven vertical electrical soundings (VESs) with Schlumberger configuration validated the surface findings and provided crucial subsurface information, suggesting dolomitic limestone as the optimal bedrock for facility construction which found at a depth ranging between 1.3 and 47 m with resistivity values ranging from 185.7 to 2251 Ω m. This study offers a thorough framework for the strategic advancement of green hydrogen production in Egypt, supporting the country’s sustainable energy transition goals.