Ireland’s first ‘hydrogen valley’ was announced on Thursday by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, which would see Galway play host to a green hydrogen demonstrator hub providing fuel for transport.
Mr Martin announced the plans at a conference hosted by the Port of Galway, on the subject of the Renewable Energy Opportunity in the West of Ireland.
The concept would see development of a “regional ecosystem” linking hydrogen research, production, distribution, and transportation with end users such as transport and industry.
The Galway Hydrogen Hub (GH2) will be developed by a consortium comprised of NUI Galway, the Port of Galway, CIÉ Group and Bus Éireann, Aran Islands Ferries, Lasta Mara Teo, Aer Arann Islands, and SSE Renewables.
Plans would see the consortium intention develop an initial flagship demonstrator project at Galway Harbour, where green hydrogen would be produced and supplied for public and private vehicles. This will include buses and trucks and deliver a multi-modal, zero emission, renewable hydrogen transport hub, which the group says could be “easily replicated” across Ireland.
Delighted to join the Renewable Energy Conference at @portofgalway today.
Climate change is a threat to all of us and it’s imperative we act now.
Renewable electricity can not only help reduce emissions, but also provide jobs and new opportunities. pic.twitter.com/o6vgMAOyPd
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 14, 2022
The transport hub could be fully operational by the second half of 2024, the developers said, adding that once producing fuels could be used for both the domestic and export markets.
Full details of the project are to be announced in the coming weeks, along with details of a public consultation as part of the planning process for the project.
SSE Renewables’ project manager for GH2, John O’Sullivan, said: “Green hydrogen is gaining global recognition as a means of decarbonising heavy duty and long-distance transport as well as industry.
“The development of Ireland’s first Hydrogen Valley in Galway Harbour will allow us to utilise indigenous renewable energy to produce green hydrogen for use by local air, sea, road and rail transport alongside industry. As part of the integrated SSE Group, SSE Renewables has a view across the whole energy value chain and so is uniquely positioned to deliver this green hydrogen solution for the consortium, helping to kickstart the development of a new hydrogen economy in the West of Ireland.”
The Galway project follows plans announced last week by SSE to produce and deliver green hydrogen in the Scottish Highlands.
Power will be supplied to an electrolyser by the 100 megawatt (MW)-plus Gordonbush onshore wind farm in Sutherland, and produced using Siemens Gamesa’s Renewable Hydrogen Upgrade solution.
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