Hydrogen in Ireland Discussion Paper

This is a working paper commissioned by the Climate Change Advisory Council of Ireland in order to inform a thematic discussion on the potential role of hydrogen in decarbonisation and achievement of the National Climate Objective in Ireland as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that in order to achieve the Paris agreement, around 8% of global energy consumption will be provided by hydrogen (IRENA 2020). Green hydrogen can be produced from renewable electricity through electrolysis of water with production of close to zero greenhouse gas emissions though the full production process. A number of studies and the recent Consultation for developing a hydrogen strategy for Ireland (DECC, 2022a) have identified the opportunity for hydrogen production in Ireland using renewable electricity, in particular based on Ireland’s significant offshore wind resource. Green hydrogen produced from renewable electricity is thus the focus of this discussion paper.