“Your Name Job Title and Responsibilities?”
Bill has more than 25 years’ experience in the industrial water treatment industry. After initially starting with GE within the mobile water sector, he moved to the installation and commissioning of DBOOM (design-build-own-operate-maintain) systems, before starting his first role with Envirogen as process and systems specialist. Initially, at Envirogen, Bill specialised in the brewing and soft drinks industries. In parallel, he developed a detailed understanding of hollow fibre membrane applications while supporting clients across multiple continents. He then moved to the commercial arm of the Envirogen Group before joining the executive team in 2018 and later becoming CEO, UK and Europe.
“Could you tell me about your experience in water treatment technologies for hydrogen production?”
Envirogen has a proven track record in designing and delivering water treatment technologies for hydrogen production, offering advanced solutions for hydrogen production from water with a strong focus on membrane technologies for producing ultrapure water. A recent project includes a 400m³/hr water treatment system for green hydrogen production, featuring high-recovery reverse osmosis (RO) technology and electrodeionisation (EDI) polishing stacks to ensure a consistent supply of ultrapure water.
Our team plays a vital role in both green and blue hydrogen production, ensuring a reliable supply of high-purity water, optimising hydrogen electrolysis efficiency, and reducing operational costs. Our tailored solutions help hydrogen producers meet stringent water quality standards while advancing sustainability goals through water recycling, reuse, and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) strategies – thereby maximising water recovery and minimising environmental impact.
With the electrolyser market expanding in response to global net zero targets and stricter regulatory policies, Envirogen offers comprehensive support for hydrogen projects. We provide process water systems, utility feed, and water recycling and reuse technologies – each designed to enhance electrolysis efficiency, maximise resource use and drive long-term sustainability.
“What technique do you use to extract hydrogen from water?”
Hydrogen is primarily extracted from water through electrolysis, a process that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using an electric current. Envirogen supports this process by providing high-purity water treatment technologies that prevent contaminants from damaging electrolysers, ensuring consistent and efficient hydrogen production.
“How to produce hydrogen from water?”
Hydrogen production from water involves electrolysis, where an electrical current is passed through purified water to separate hydrogen and oxygen. For optimal performance, ultrapure water systems like those provided by Envirogen remove impurities that could hinder electrolysis efficiency, reducing maintenance and ensuring long-term sustainability.
“Could you provide a brief summary of your organisation and offering to the hydrogen market?”
Envirogen is an international provider of specialist water treatment solutions, with key markets in the UK, Europe, and USA. Our European headquarters, based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, serves as our manufacturing hub for advanced water treatment systems, supporting industries such as energy, brewing, soft drinks, and healthcare.
In the hydrogen sector, ultrapure water free from dissolved solids is critical to prevent scale formation on electrolysers – one of the most expensive components in hydrogen production. Poor water quality can lead to costly maintenance and reduced hydrogen yield. Envirogen provides proven solutions, using advanced membrane filtration and ion exchange technologies, to ensure ultrapure water quality, safeguarding electrolyser performance and maximising productivity.
We are committed to providing innovative, sustainable water treatment technologies for hydrogen production, that optimise efficiency and minimise operational costs. Our Eco MultiPro system is a fully integrated, skid-mounted solution that combines reverse osmosis (RO), electrodeionisation (EDI), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) degasification membranes to produce high-purity water without hazardous chemicals. Designed for seamless integration and rapid deployment, Eco MultiPro offers a reliable, compact, plug-and-play design that ensures a consistent supply of ultrapure water while reducing maintenance and chemical handling risks.
Water availability is a growing challenge for hydrogen producers, particularly in regions with limited freshwater resources. To ensure water scarcity does not hinder the scalability of electrolysis, Envirogen provides solutions capable of treating a wide range of water sources—including surface water, groundwater, seawater desalination, and municipal wastewater—transforming them into high-quality ultrapure water in an efficient and sustainable manner. Our expertise in water reuse and resource optimisation helps clients overcome location-specific challenges while supporting their long-term production goals.
In addition, we provide remote monitoring and diagnostics for continuous performance optimisation and proactive maintenance. Our tailored service programmes ensure long-term asset support, enhancing reliability and extending equipment lifespan. With responsive regional support, we help clients achieve peak performance and efficiency.
“Who in the main are the companies you engage with and in what way?
Envirogen works with a wide range of industries and manufacturing organisations that require high-quality treated water for their products, energy generation, or essential utilities. Our key markets include power generation, chemical processing, brewing, soft drinks, healthcare, and broader manufacturing industries.
We have an excellent track record of collaboration with leading consultancy groups, engineering firms, and EPC contractors, working alongside them to deliver tailored water treatment solutions for large-scale and complex projects. Our approach focuses on long-term partnerships, ensuring our expertise aligns with the unique operational and regulatory challenges faced by our clients.
“Do you have a project or case study you could provide some details of?”
While confidentiality agreements prevent us from sharing specific project details, Envirogen has a strong track record of delivering advanced water treatment solutions across numerous critical industries. As noted above, a recent project includes a 400m³/hr water treatment system for hydrogen production, featuring high-recovery reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodeionisation (EDI) polishing stacks to ensure a consistent supply of ultrapure water.
An Envirogen Group water treatment system for hydrogen production.
“What do you see as the key trends in the sector?”
As the demand for green hydrogen grows, sustainable water management is becoming increasingly crucial to its success. By adopting innovative water treatment solutions, the industry will optimise operational efficiency while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Hydrogen is rapidly emerging as a key player in shaping a sustainable future, with industries across various sectors recognising its potential as a clean energy source. However, realising its full potential requires careful consideration of environmental sustainability, particularly in managing the ultrapure water essential for efficient hydrogen production.
A key trend is the shift towards using alternative water sources, such as groundwater, surface water and treated wastewater, to reduce reliance on freshwater supplies and minimise environmental impact. This approach supports circular economy principles by repurposing water streams and promoting resource efficiency.
Advancements in membrane technologies are also enhancing the production of ultrapure water for electrolysis. Solutions such as Envirogen’s MultiPro RO-EDI system integrate reverse osmosis (RO) and electrodeionisation (EDI) to achieve higher water recovery rates with lower energy consumption, offering a sustainable and cost-effective solution. The implementation of zero liquid discharge (ZLD) strategies alongside membrane technologies maximises water reuse and further promotes resource efficiency.
Additionally, the move away from traditional chemical-based purification methods is gaining momentum. Advanced membrane technologies now provide chemical-free purification, improving safety, reducing storage requirements – and minimising environmental impact while maintaining operational efficiency.
“What are Envirogen’s objectives looking ahead through 2025 and beyond?”
As the global push towards net-zero emissions accelerates, green hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a viable solution for a sustainable future. Water is a critical component in the success of green hydrogen projects, and Envirogen is committed to supporting this transition with state-of-the-art, sustainable water treatment solutions. Our focus remains on collaborating closely with stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain to ensure our technologies continue to meet evolving industry needs while driving environmental and operational efficiencies.
Looking ahead, Envirogen’s objectives are centred on advancing our total water treatment and process filtration capabilities. We aim to provide end-to-end solutions that go beyond water purification – encompassing engineering design, system optimisation and comprehensive operational support. Our goal is to empower organisations with tailored, flexible, and scalable eco-friendly water treatment strategies that optimise resource use, reduce environmental impact, and ensure long-term regulatory compliance.
“What are the main challenges facing the sector more generally and for you specifically?”
The green hydrogen sector faces significant challenges, including the need for a robust market to justify substantial investments and the adaptation of existing infrastructure for hydrogen storage and distribution. These factors, combined with regulatory uncertainties, could delay the sector’s growth and widespread adoption.
However, these challenges present opportunities for Envirogen to collaborate with stakeholders across the hydrogen value chain, including consultancy groups, engineering firms and EPC contractors. Our strong track record in delivering tailored water treatment solutions for large-scale and complex projects positions us as a trusted partner in driving the sector’s growth and sustainability goals. By working closely with our clients, we help to navigate the complexities of water management, ensuring long-term resilience and operational success.
Envirogen has sustainable technologies readily available to support investment in this market sector, including the multi-technology, low-footprint Eco MultiPro system. Our scalable solutions help hydrogen producers secure a consistent supply of ultrapure water, optimise resource use and ensure compliance with evolving industry standards.
“How would you sum up your message to the market?”
The reliable supply of ultrapure water is critical to the success of industrial processes, and choosing the right water treatment partner is key to achieving long-term operational efficiency and sustainability. Envirogen brings extensive experience, technical expertise and a proven track record in delivering sustainable water treatment solutions that ensure operations run reliably, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
We believe that working with a specialist water treatment company should be viewed as a long-term strategic partnership rather than a one-time solution. Our lifecycle cost solutions support organisations at every stage – from initial system design and engineering to installation, ongoing service, and operational optimisation.
To help clients better understand their water treatment needs, we offer a free initial site visit and water audit conducted by our expert water process engineers. This enables us to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements, cost savings and sustainable water management tailored to specific operational requirements.
For a free assessment to evaluate water treatment and process filtration solutions for your site, contact our team of expert engineers