Define the relevant exposure
Distinguish air temperature from process-water temperature, and annual averages from the operating extremes. Include water availability, evaporation assumptions, salinity and seasonal production. Ask which data come from the site and which have been transferred from another region.
Follow the coupled effects
Trace how a change in water balance affects concentration, feed consistency, residuals and reuse. For biological or nature-based concepts, review the operating envelope and evidence under comparable conditions. Do not assume that a successful temperate-climate demonstration transfers unchanged.
Check practical dependencies
Record land, utilities, maintenance access, monitoring capacity and supply-chain needs. Examine restart, abnormal inflow and loss-of-supply scenarios with the responsible team. These interfaces can matter as much as the performance stated for steady operation.
Define a proportionate validation step
List the assumptions most likely to change the choice of concept. Resolve them through data review, a targeted study or a carefully scoped demonstration. The output should be a transferability assessment with clear conditions and an evidence plan, not an unqualified regional suitability claim.
Sources & context
- IPCC AR6 WGII · Chapter 4: Water (2022) ↗
- IPCC AR6 WGII · Chapter 17: Decision-making options for managing risk (2022) ↗
Background reading checked 9 October 2026. The review questions and structures above are BGF editorial guidance; the references are not BGF project evidence or endorsements. Apply them to the relevant site, data and agreed scope.