The World Hydrogen Technology Conference this year took place in Dublin at a particularly moment in Irish rush to clean energy and transport systems. Blue-tied Timmy Dooley, Irish Minister of State announced the long- awaited National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce, to push the Irish National Hydrogen Strategy, developed in 2023, to completion. Rory Monaghan, professor of Mechanical Engineering at Galway University (NUIG) and teaching at the the newly-created Energy Systems Engineering Degree and Masters programmes at NUIG, coordinator of the SH2AMROCK Hydrogen Valley project, sporting a blue tie as well, detailed the various concrete hydrogen production, distribution and application activities that SH2AMROCK will undertake in over three years, becoming first H2 Hub in Ireland.
To ensure a coordinated cross-departmental approach to the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland, the Taskforce will:
1. Develop the necessary legislation, regulatory and safety frameworks which could enable early hydrogen projects to progress;
2. Enhance knowledge, explore opportunities and provide further clarity on the role that hydrogen is likely to play in a future decarbonised integrated net zero energy system;
3. Put in place the necessary policies and frameworks to deliver:
a) An early hydrogen innovation fund by 2027.
b) Hydrogen end-uses in transport by 2030 in line with EU RED III requirements.
c) Potential routes to market for up to 2 GW hydrogen production from offshore wind, to be in development by 2030.
Especially sub action 12.1 of the Taskforce’s National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan, coordinated by Gas Networks Ireland, on an Agreement on Supply /Demand scenario’s out to 2050, completed end of December 2025, ties into SH2AMROCK’s ambition to create sustainable hydrogen use cases and business plans…..