Mapping Colombia's green hydrogen potential: A nationwide geospatial suitability and cost screening assessment

This study develops a comprehensive geospatial framework to identify and evaluate suitable locations for green hydrogen production in Colombia, integrating renewable energy potential, infrastructure readiness, and environmental constraints. The framework combines high-resolution Geographic Information System (GIS) modeling with a screening-level cost assessment of Levelized Costs of Electricity (LCOE) and Hydrogen (LCOH), applied to solar PV, onshore wind, and offshore wind technologies. Results reveal that approximately 5.1% of Colombia’s land area is eligible for solar PV, 1% for onshore wind, and 2.1% of its maritime Exclusive Economic Zone for offshore wind once environmental, technical, and legal restrictions are applied. Among the assessed regions, La Guajira emerges as the most promising hub, achieving LCOE values as low as 41 $/MWh for onshore wind and corresponding LCOH values of 6–8 $/kg. The study applies an oversizing factor methodology for renewable–electrolyzer systems, adapted from and consistent with previous studies, improving accuracy compared with conventional 1:1 capacity assumptions. Sensitivity analysis shows that renewable-resource utilization and electrolyzer specific electricity consumption are major technical drivers of LCOH, while the dominant economic drivers vary across renewable pathways. Institutional barriers, such as land-use restrictions under ANH concessions and grid infrastructure gaps, remain key bottlenecks. The findings inform policy design, investment prioritization, and spatial planning for Colombia’s Green Hydrogen Roadmap and provide a replicable framework for other emerging economies pursuing renewable-based hydrogen strategies.