Pa Daly
Ceist:6. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the steps he is taking to address the slow progress on green hydrogen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44230/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 June 2026
Ceisteanna (6)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Hydrogen Programme Taskforce is making good progress on a number of key strands to deliver the actions from the National Hydrogen Strategy. The National Hydrogen Strategy focuses on the production and use of renewable hydrogen (hydrogen produced using renewable electricity sources such as wind and solar is commonly referred to as green hydrogen). The role of the Taskforce is to ensure a coordinated cross-departmental approach to the development of the hydrogen sector in Ireland.
The National Hydrogen Programme Implementation Plan sets out how the Taskforce will implement the actions contained within the National Hydrogen Strategy. To assist in the progress of the deployment of green hydrogen in Ireland, the following is taking place:
Action 1 is to ‘develop and publish data sets showing the likely locations, volumes, and load profile of surplus renewables on our electricity grid out to 2030’. The Renewable Surplus Data published by EirGrid can be found via this link https://cms.eirgrid.ie/shaping-our-electricity-future-renewable-surplus-data.
Action 2 specifically provides for the establishment of an early hydrogen innovation fund to support demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain. 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.
Action 8 is a study to assess the potential for connecting future Irish hydrogen infrastructure with continental Europe. The study provides practical, technical and commercial information to assist future hydrogen policy development. It provides an evidence base to inform the theoretical potential for exporting hydrogen to continental Europe. The study has been published on the Government’s website and can be found via this link www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/national-hydrogen-strategy/
The minutes from the hydrogen taskforce meetings will be published on the DCEE website by the end of Q2.