Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 May 2026
36. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government intends to provide dedicated financial supports, including capital grants or operational subsidies, for early-stage renewable hydrogen pilot projects in order to de risk investment, accelerate market entry, and support Ireland's decarbonisation and energy security objectives; and if he will outline expected timelines for such supports. [38323/26]
View answer39. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment whether specific funding streams will be introduced to support hydrogen pilot projects in hard to abate industrial sectors, such as high temperature heat applications, which the Strategy identifies as early priority use-cases; and if such funding will form part of the forthcoming Climate Action Plan measures. [38326/26]
View answer40. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the Government will financially support pilot projects testing hydrogen storage, port infrastructure or repurposed gas network assets, in line with the infrastructure goals outlined in the National Hydrogen Strategy; and when details of such supports will be announced. [38327/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 39 and 40 together.
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key strands to deliver the actions from the National Hydrogen Strategy, including developing a fund for hydrogen demonstration projects.
Ireland’s National Hydrogen Strategy recognises the importance of research, innovation, and targeted project support to overcome the barriers early-stage demonstration projects will face. Action 2 of the Strategy specifically provides for the establishment of an early hydrogen innovation fund to support demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain.
My Department has commissioned KPMG to support the development of the Strategic Assessment and Preliminary Business Case for the hydrogen demonstration fund, which are required for the first approval stage under the Infrastructure Guidelines and are critical for developing the strategic case for capital investment funding proposals. This piece of work will assist the Department in progressing through the subsequent approval stages including detailed fund design.
The demonstration fund will aim to kick-start the deployment of green hydrogen deployment in Ireland and will contribute to decarbonisation of Ireland's economy and enhance our energy security.
My Department is working to deliver the hydrogen demonstration fund by 2027.
