ESB will investigate green hydrogen production in Ireland and potential export routes to Germany under a new partnership between the two nations, known as HYreland.
Outlined under a Joint Declaration of Intent from Germany and Ireland, the study will be delivered in collaboration with the German Government (BMBF) and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC).
Read more:Ireland and Germany to cooperate on green hydrogen under new agreement
As part of the study, two specific locations at ESB’s Moneypoint and Aghada power stations, with preliminary results expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The study will be delivered in close collaboration with industry and research partners, such as Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE and Ireland’s International Energy Research Centre (IERC), with input provided by selected associated industrial partners.
Jim Dollard, Executive Director of Generation and Trading at ESB, claimed the firm will use similar studies conducted in other parts of the world as a “reference and benchmark for Project HYreland going forward.”
He added, “We look forward to working closely with DECC and the German government to develop the ongoing energy cooperation between Ireland and Germany.”
The Irish government has set the target of 5GW of offshore energy by 2030 and is targeting an additional 2GW of offshore wind for green hydrogen production.
2023 analysis from Aurora Energy Research suggested that Ireland could produce the “cheapest” hydrogen in Europe by 2030. The agency stated that production under optimal conditions would result in a levelised cost of €3.50/kg ($3.74) of hydrogen by 2030 – 35% lower than optimal costs in Germany.
By the end of the decade, Germany wants to boast a hydrogen capacity of 10GW, either through production or imports.
However, speaking at the Hydrogen Technology Expo in Hamburg last month, the German Energy Agency’s Laura Droste said, “It’s quite a challenge to install 9GW in five years, so we need adjustments [to targets].”
Read more:Germany faces uphill task to build 9GW of hydrogen capacity by 2030, experts warn
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