Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The SAF industry throughout Europe is at an early stage of development and, in an Irish context, Ireland is not traditionally a fuel producer. It imports more than 90% of its aviation fuel. Within national energy policy, there is a clear focus on significantly increasing the production of renewable energies and as part of this we are developing a national hydrogen strategy. It is anticipated that the aviation sector could be a significant user of hydrogen in the future, both as a feed stock for advancing SAF and to power the potential of a future hydrogen aircraft. Ireland has a possible advantage, given its potential to produce green hydrogen. While uncertainties remain, there is potential for the production of synthetic aviation fuel in Ireland. The national hydrogen strategy is due to be published in quarter 2 of 2023. It will inform potential developments in this area and inform our national strategy when it comes to sustainable aviation fuel, both moving together with the ongoing drafting and transposition of the EU files. We have to embrace that opportunity and allow ourselves to market Ireland as moving with the important transition around climate action. The national hydrogen strategy will inform developments in this area.

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