Green hydrogen investors in talks over Mayo industry plans
“We could be world leaders in renewable energy”
Preliminary plans for the establishment of a green hydrogen industry in Mayo have been revealed.
A leading company in the field of renewable energy has made an approach to planning officials of Mayo County Council about the proposal.
The expression of interest was confirmed to Councillor Neil Cruise.
Alan De Lucia, senior planner, said the authority has had a number of meetings with the promoters.
“We are continuing to work with them – but it is some way off at this point,” he added.
Councillor Cruise said green hydrogen offers huge potential into the future.
“Mayo could be world leaders in renewable energy and it's important that we don't put all our eggs into one basket and have a range of options.”
Mr. De Lucia said the promoters have indicated a preference in regard to location apart from being within close proximity to the Corrib gas line.
Councillor Mark Duffy, chairman of Mayo's planning and economic policy committee, said the former Asahi site in Killala would be the perfect location for such an industry.
The news comes following reports that Ireland’s oil and gas exploration companies have made a submission to the government’s climate action plan proposing low-carbon hubs in Mayo and Cork.
The Irish Offshore Operators’ Association (IOOA) is presenting two distinct but interlinked proposals which they said will support Ireland becoming carbon neutral by 2050 — the Corrib Critical Infrastructure Hub and the Cork Nett Zero Emissions Hub.
The Corrib Critical Infrastructure Hub envisages the production of hydrogen using natural gas.
The IOOA said there are a number of broadly similar initiatives in the UK including the Nett Zero Teesside (NZT) and the Zero Carbon Humber (ZCH) projects.
Alan Linn, chairperson of IOOA, said in a recent interview that without further indigenous gas discoveries, Ireland will be entirely reliant on imported gas.
Mr. Linn stated Ireland will be vulnerable to interruptions of gas supply without an indigenous replacement for the Corrib gas field that is now in decline.
“We believe that Ireland has the capacity to maintain a level of energy sovereignty by using its own resources.
“Ireland can reduce our imports and our emissions while increasing investment and jobs.
“This will only be achieved if politicians are willing to be honest about Ireland’s energy security limitations and are prepared to realise the full potential of Ireland’s offshore resources.”
Green energy company EI-H2 recently announced plans for the country's first green hydrogen facility, which will create more than 85 jobs in Co Cork.
EI-H2 intends to seek planning permission for a 50MW electrolysis plant in Aghada, Co. Cork, which when operational will remove 63,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year from Irish industry and power generation.
Upon completion, the site will be one of the biggest green energy facilities of its kind in the world.
By 2050, it is estimated that green hydrogen will account for 80% of the shipping industry's energy demand, the vast majority of which will be in the form of green ammonia. The same product will meet an estimated 60% of the aviation sector's energy demand.
Pearse Flynn, owner of EI-H2, said that Ireland is starting to take leadership in tackling climate change.
"The production of hydrogen from excess wind capacity will play a significant role in Ireland's decarbonisation, given that Ireland could be generating 8 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
"There inevitably will be 'curtailed' energy that will go to waste unless we find ways of using it,” he explained.