‘Urgent Need’ for Progress on Ireland’s Hydrogen Plan

Hydrogen Ireland says there is an urgent need for progress on the National Hydrogen Strategy, which it says has achieved little since its publication in 2023. The all-island group of industry and academic figures works to raise the profile of the potential benefits offered by hydrogen energy solutions and today launched its annual conference, which will take place next month in Cork.

Fifteen months since the publication of the National Hydrogen Strategy, Hydrogen Ireland says a lack of visible progress is frustrating, particularly when the rate of investment is accelerating rapidly around the world. According to recent research, the global project pipeline has grown by a factor of seven since 2020 from 228 projects to 1,572 projects, as of May 2024.

CEO of Hydrogen Ireland Paul McCormack says it’s vital that we keep pace with international progress:

“We welcomed the National Hydrogen Strategy as a key catalyst to attracting investment in Ireland’s clean energy sector, and we believe that potential remains. Private industry is putting resources into hydrogen in Ireland but its possibilities as an energy vector for the future can’t be achieved without visible commitment and the kind of progress policymakers can enable. We would like to see an update on which of the strategy’s goals have been achieved so far and a roadmap for the future rollout”.

Head of Projects at Pinsent Masons Ireland and board member at Hydrogen Ireland, Garrett Monaghan, believes progress can be made even within the limited remaining lifetime of the current government:

“Energy is a core pillar of Ireland’s competitiveness strategy, and hydrogen’s potential role in our energy sector was recognised in the National Hydrogen Strategy. Amid the inevitable speculation about a general election date, formulation and implementation of Irish energy & industrial policy need to keep moving. It is essential that tangible implementation steps on the National Hydrogen Strategy are taken in the lifetime of this Government”.

The Hydrogen Ireland annual conference will have ‘Navigating the Challenges and Seizing the Opportunities’ as its theme at Fota Island Resort on November 13 and 14. Speakers will include senior representatives from the Departments of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Environment Climate and Communications and Northern Ireland’s Department for the Economy. Industry speakers will include representatives from Gas Networks Ireland, ESB, Indaver, Lagan Technologies, HyEnergy and Bord na Móna.

The event is geared towards industry professionals, technical and academic partners, research collaborators, policymakers and Government officials. Registration is now open, and full details are available at www.h2irl.com.