Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

181. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of plans to make Ireland a leader in hydrogen storage; and the estimated cost of a hydrogen 50 MW hydrolyser. [30811/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Programme for Government sets out the need for research and development of hydrogen from renewable sources, known as ‘green hydrogen’, for use as a fuel for power generation, manufacturing, energy storage and transport.In July 2020, the European Commission published a hydrogen strategy for a carbon-neutral Europe. Ireland supported the hydrogen strategy, including the need to deploy green hydrogen in line with the Programme for Government. Ireland also supported the publication of the Council Conclusions on a hydrogen market for Europe in October 2020. In the development of these conclusions, Ireland strongly supported the need to focus on green hydrogen.

My Department is working with relevant Departments, agencies and stakeholders to inform Ireland's future policies in relation to hydrogen. The role of hydrogen, and actions needed for its development, are being considered as part of the development of the next Climate Action Plan which is currently underway. The Interim Climate Actions 2021 include hydrogen related actions such as testing the technical feasibility and safety of hydrogen blends in the natural gas grid.

As regards the second part of the Deputy's question, I assume he is referring to the production of green hydrogen by the process of electrolysis. While my Department does not produce estimates of costs, I note that the EU Commission's hydrogen strategy included an estimate of the capital cost of an electrolyser in 2020 to be €900 per kilowatt. The EU strategy also included an expected decline to €450 per kilowatt or less in the period after 2030, and €180 per kilowatt after 2040. I would note these estimates refer to capital costs only and do not include the operational costs.