Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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202. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the work that has been carried out since he has taken office to develop a green hydrogen strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7591/22]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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203. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the research and development in green hydrogen work undertaken by his Department since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7593/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.

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 ambition set out in the Programme for Government. Ireland also supported the EU Energy Council Conclusions on a hydrogen market for Europe in December 2020. In the development of these conclusions, Ireland strongly supported the need to focus on green hydrogen.

The role of hydrogen, and actions needed for its development were considered as part of the development of the Climate Action Plan 2021. The Climate Action Plan 2021, published in November, identifies green hydrogen as having the potential to support decarbonisation across several sectors and, in particular, as a source for high-temperature heat in industry and flexible generation in electricity. A key target set out in the Climate Action Plan is to carry out a work programme to identify a route to deliver one to three terra-watt hours of zero emissions gas (including green hydrogen) by 2030. The plan includes a suite of actions relating to green hydrogen across the electricity, enterprise and transport chapters and includes:

- testing the technical feasibility of safely injecting green hydrogen blends in the gas grid;

- assessing the potential for system integration between the electricity and gas networks, which will include the production, storage and use of green hydrogen;

- progressing research and pilot studies regarding the use of hydrogen in the transport sector.

In addition, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is developing a number of initiatives on the role of green hydrogen in decarbonisation. The 2021 SEAI National Energy Research Development & Demonstration (RD&D) Programme Call included a number of projects relating to green hydrogen, and the development of floating offshore wind foundations coupled with hydrogen storage. The SEAI is currently conducting the National Heat Study, which aims to examine options to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors in Ireland to 2050, including options for green hydrogen. The outcomes of this study are due to be published shortly. 

In accordance with the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, the Climate Action Plan will be updated on an annual basis to reflect ongoing developments and targets achieved. I expect a strategy focussing on the development of green hydrogen to be included in Climate Action Plan 2022.