Published in July 2023 the strategy outlines a strategic vision for developing a hydrogen sector in Ireland as a contribution to decarbonise the economy, enhance energy security, and create industrial and export market opportunities.
The 21 actions set out within the strategy aim to remove barriers to early hydrogen project developments and to enhance knowledge through targeted research and innovation across the hydrogen value chain. These actions are set to be for completed by 2030 and work has started on a number of them according to the responsible minister Alan Dillon answering parliamentary questions of deputy Darren O’Rourke on February 20, 2025 in a Dáil Éireann Debate. These include identifying the amount of surplus renewable energy that will be available for hydrogen production, putting in place the legal and regulatory framework for this new industry, and examining the feasibility of exporting hydrogen.
According to the minister they are currently finalising a detailed implementation plan for the multi-year work programme set out in the strategy to ensure appropriate governance. Implementation will involve a number of Departments including the Department of Transport and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and other stakeholders. A detailed implementation plan will be finalised in Q2 2025.
The role green hydrogen is expected to play in Irish life is outlined in the 2023 Climate Action Plan, which was published in December 2022. This plan included a target for 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 with an additional 2GW for green hydrogen production. That production is not envisaged until post 2030. In 2023, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) published the National Hydrogen Strategy (see above) in which one of the key actions is to “develop the commercial business models to support the scale up and development of renewable hydrogen, targeting surplus renewable grid electricity pre-2030 and an initial 2GW of offshore wind from 2030”.
The role of green hydrogen the 2024 Climate Action Plan, has changed from having 2GW of offshore wind for green hydrogen “in production” to “under development” by 2030.
EirGrid, Ireland’s Transmission System Operator, reported that 8.3 per cent of the total wind energy available was dispatched down in 2022 as it could not be accommodated by the grid.