Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on cooperation in the field of green hydrogen between the Irish Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and the German Federal Research Ministry.
Article continues below
This Declaration of Intent, signed on behalf of the German Federal Research Ministry by Parliamentary State Secretary Mario Brandenburg, will formalise cooperation in respect of green hydrogen between Ireland and Germany, and enable it to expand in the coming years.
The German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce has been a key enabler to this process.
One of the main challenges to the supply of green hydrogen is the availability of renewable energy to produce it. Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world and realising the full potential of this resource will be a major opportunity for green hydrogen production.
Momentum is building behind green hydrogen in Ireland, which is set to play a crucial role in decarbonising our energy system.
The government has set a target of 5GW offshore energy by 2030 and is creating the environment for the development of a hydrogen industry by targeting an additional 2GW of offshore wind for the production of green hydrogen.
Two gigawatts of Renewable Hydrogen capacity could provide up to 6TWh (Terawatt Hour) of zero carbon energy. This could deliver just over 10% of the electricity sector’s total final energy needs, 21% of industry needs or 6-7% of total transport needs.
The government is currently developing a National Hydrogen Strategy, which is due to be finalised shortly.
With a sea area approximately seven times the size of the country landmass, Ireland has one of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world. Ireland’s coast is one of the most energy productive in Europe, meaning Ireland has the potential to become a net exporter of green hydrogen in the longer term.
The German Hydrogen Strategy estimates that Germany will be able to produce around 20-30 percent of their hydrogen needs indigenously by 2030.
Given Ireland’s abundance of offshore renewable resources, there are significant opportunities for future trade in this area. ■
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.