Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
196. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the progress to date in terms of the utilising of hydrogen energy; the role his Department is now playing in this; the efforts being made in terms of generating energy from hydrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14596/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment recognises the key role that renewable hydrogen is anticipated to play in our future energy system and as a key component of our zero-carbon economy. It will be extremely challenging for Ireland to achieve our legally binding target of net zero emissions by 2050 without decarbonised gases like renewable hydrogen. It is the strongest contender to displace fossil fuels in dispatchable power generation, which is essential for a reliable power system and is especially important during periods of low renewable generation. Renewable hydrogen can also enhance our security of supply as it can be produced in Ireland with our abundant wind and solar energy resources, and it provides long-term, inter-seasonal storage of renewables.
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce was launched in September 2025 to oversee the delivery of the actions and wider strategic ambitions set out in the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Taskforce works across Government Departments and State agencies, working with key stakeholders to remove barriers to early hydrogen project development and lay the ground to enable the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland. The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key strands to deliver the actions from the National Hydrogen Strategy.
