Identifying Suitable Hospitals for Solar-Powered Green Hydrogen Integration in Debrecen, Hungary

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating solar-powered green hydrogen systems into hospitals in Debrecen, Hungary, by combining GIS-based spatial analysis with solar-radiation modeling. It first identifies suitable hospital rooftops and nearby sites using multiple Digital Elevation Models (SRTM, Copernicus, ALOS) and land-cover, urban-density, and protected-area data to create a national “suitability” map. Focusing on three local facilities, in Vitro Building, Kenézy Gyula Hospital, and Medicover Debrecen, it calculates 10-year average solar radiation values (approximately 626, 792, and 686 kWh/m², respectively) via ArcGIS Pro’s Raster Solar Radiation tool. Case studies from the Netherlands’ Rijnstate and Spain’s Viamed San José hospitals demonstrate real-world green hydrogen integration. Results show strong technical viability for Debrecen’s hospitals to generate clean hydrogen and medical-grade oxygen on-site, potentially reducing carbon emissions and enhancing energy security. The work contributes a reproducible geospatial methodology for planning decentralized renewable-hydrogen energy in critical-infrastructure settings.