SSE Renewables has joined a consortium aiming to develop Ireland’s first hydrogen valley at Galway Harbour on the country’s west coast.

As a first step, the consortium aims to launch a demonstration green hydrogen transport hub focused on buses and trucks that could be fully operational by the second half of 2024.

In addition to UK-based SSE, the members of the GH2 consortium are university NUI Galway, road transport firms CIE Group and Bus Eireann, ferry operators Aran Island Ferries and Lasta Mara Teo, airline Aer Arann Islands and the Port of Galway.

“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,” says John O’Sullivan, SSE Renewables’ project manager for GH2.

The consortium plans to unveil further details of the project and the outline of a planned public consultation over the next few weeks.

RWE plans

Separately, Germany’s RWE has reiterated plans to invest up €1.5bn ($1.6bn) in the Irish renewables sector by 2030—although it has also called for a streamlining of planning rules to enable the sector’s expansion.

5GW – Ireland’s 2030 target for installed offshore wind capacity

“RWE sees very significant potential for our operations in Ireland, and we are keen to grow our business in this market,” says Cathal Hennessy, chair of RWE Ireland.

“Renewable energy can help Ireland meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets and will also play a key role in delivering energy security for the Irish economy. But this will only happen if the correct policy frameworks are in place and adequate resources are available within key areas such as planning and energy provision,” he adds.

Offshore potential

Ireland wants offshore wind to play a key role in reaching its targets of 80pc renewable power generation by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The government has set a goal of having 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 and last month unveiled a new maritime planning regime for the sector.

Industry association Wind Energy Ireland has highlighted the twin potential of the country’s wind and green hydrogen sectors. It has called on the government to release a hydrogen strategy by the end of Q2 2022, setting out targets across industry, heavy road transport, shipping, aviation and power generation.

RWE’s largest project in Ireland so far is the 600-900MW Dublin Array offshore wind project, which it is developing in partnership with local player Saorgus Energy.

It also has an onshore windfarm at Dromadda Beg, near Listowel in County Kerry, and an 8.5MW battery storage facility at Balbriggan, near Dublin, which was the company’s first such project in Europe. RWE has also developed a 60MW battery at Lisdrumdoagh in County Monaghan.

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Author: Stuart Penson