Northern Irish industry group Hydrogen NI has welcomed the Department for the Economy’s renewed commitment to growing a thriving clean hydrogen economy in the region.
The department’s ambitions were set out during a webinar event hosted by Hydrogen NI, at which Edward Kerr (pictured, left), from DfE’s hydrogen and advanced technologies team, was the guest speaker.
This included discussion on the strategic role which clean hydrogen will play in Northern Ireland’s energy transition, followed by a Q&A session with key industry members.
Northern Ireland’s ambitious new energy strategy was published in December 2021 and sets out the path to a net zero future.
For the DfE, growing the green hydrogen economy will be a key part of that policy.
Hydrogen NI said Northern Ireland is “ideally suited” to develop a thriving hydrogen economy with its high levels of wind energy, a modern hydrogen-compatible gas network, natural storage facilities and a “world-leading” engineering sector.
Kerr said: “The Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons, launched The Path to Net Zero in December 2021 and its associated 22-point Action Plan in January 2022, setting out how the strategy will create jobs and lead to more affordable energy.
“Hydrogen will play a key role, with a hydrogen centre of excellence to be established that will nurture the innovation that will be needed to unlock the full potential of this exciting emerging energy sector.”
Hydrogen NI chairperson John Palmer, a partner at Shoosmiths LLP, who chaired the webinar event, added: “A clean, home-grown energy supply will boost our energy security by replacing expensive imported fuels and allow us to make the most of our market-leading levels of renewable generation. Hydrogen NI and the Department are aligned in their thinking, as we both see growing the green hydrogen economy as a means to tackle climate change and our current energy crisis.
“We look forward to continued work with the Department to address important challenges facing the industry and to develop the right kind of regulatory and policy framework which can facilitate Northern Ireland’s future hydrogen economy.”