The nexus of water availability, energy production, and climate change resilience is a rapidly evolving research domain. Increasing demands on renewable energy systems—particularly hydropower and green hydrogen—combine with the urgent need for efficient irrigation to intensify pressure on finite water resources. Recent shifts in global climate patterns have exacerbated the variability and scarcity of water supplies, directly impacting the feasibility, reliability, and sustainability of hydropower generation, green hydrogen production, and irrigation practices. While the application of AI, Advanced Process Control (APC), and Decision Support Systems (DSSs) has shown promise for optimizing these processes individually, a significant research gap persists in understanding how these technologies can holistically address the compounded challenges introduced by climate-driven fluctuations in water availability.

This Research Topic aims to advance knowledge at the intersection of water resource management, renewable energy production, and smart operational technologies. The primary goal is to investigate and develop AI-, APC-, and DSS-based solutions that not only optimize technical performance but also adapt dynamically to changing water conditions induced by climate change. Central questions include: How can predictive analytics and real-time control systems anticipate and mitigate the impacts of water scarcity or variability on hydropower and hydrogen output? What innovations can ensure that irrigation systems remain both energy-efficient and responsive to shifting resource constraints? By answering these questions, the research will support a transition toward robust, climate-adaptive, and resource-resilient water-energy systems.

This Research Topic welcomes original research, reviews, case studies, and methodological papers focusing on AI/APC/DSS-enabled transformations that specifically consider the role of water resource variability and climate change. Submissions should align with the scope of integrating intelligent solutions for renewable energy and irrigation, while emphasizing their adaptation to and mitigation of climate-driven water resource challenges. We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- AI-driven forecasting and management of water resources for energy and irrigation
- Intelligent optimization and adaptive control in hydropower and hydrogen production under variable water availability
- APC and DSS innovations for climate-resilient irrigation systems
- Scenario analyses and simulations accounting for climate change impacts on water-energy systems
- Socio-technical and ecological assessments of smart solutions in the water-energy nexus
- Real-world case studies on the deployment of AI, APC, and DSSs in climate-vulnerable water-energy systems

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Water Resources, Climate Change, and Intelligent Systems: Optimizing Hydropower, Hydrogen Production, and Irrigation Sustainability