Harnessing the power of green hydrogen will be crucial if Ireland wants to build a future with secure, sustainable and affordable energy, according to Hydrogen Ireland.
The all-island industry body, which works to raise awareness of green hydrogen’s potential, has made a submission to the government’s public consultation on Ireland’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which closes today.
Earlier this week, Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan highlighted a “very significant increase” in the number of people at risk of energy poverty.
As multiple energy providers announce increases in their prices, Hydrogen Ireland said the country must take “decisive action to mitigate the uncertainties facing our energy supply”.
Chairperson of the Hydrogen Ireland policy group Catherine Sheridan says while her organisation is looking forward to supporting the implementation of the Hydrogen Strategy for Ireland, it must be part of a wider approach.
She said: “The strategy should be actioned through the Climate Action Plan 2023 as well as Ireland’s National Energy and Climate Plan.
“It needs additional resources both in terms of funding and increased capacity in key state bodies as well as collaboration between previously silo-ed parts of the energy sector. By taking a ‘big picture’ approach, we have a golden opportunity to design and build a really positive energy future for Ireland.”
The organisation’s submission covers a range of areas where it says hydrogen can offer benefits to Ireland in the future.
These include energy security, since Ireland’s energy security currently relies on fossil fuels, including imports.
In the longer term, creating green hydrogen via renewable energy, storing and transporting it on this island would mean we are far less reliant on energy from other territories.
Another benefit is energy affordability, as green hydrogen will enable energy system integration in Ireland so that energy needs can be met from cheaper domestic renewable resources.
Another is energy exports.
Ireland has a high potential to convert energy from our wind resources into renewable hydrogen to help achieve its net zero ambition and for export to EU Member States who are already forecasting shortfalls between their hydrogen production capacity and their requirements.
By creating a route to market for the available energy, Ireland would enhance its attractiveness for FDI from large energy companies.
Finally, by exploiting offshore wind resources and encouraging the synergies between floating offshore wind and hydrogen thousands of jobs can be created by 2050, through staging, installation and the operations and maintenance of wind farms and hydrogen plants.
Hydrogen Ireland is preparing to stage its first annual conference on 22 November in Dublin, with the theme “Hydrogen: Securing Ireland’s Green Energy Future”.