Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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15. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will develop and fund a specific carbon removal strategy for Irish hotels as per suggestions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16945/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The role of hydrogen and the actions needed for its development were considered as part of the development of the Climate Action Plan 2021. The plan, 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 sectors.

These actions include:

- 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 SEAI's National Heat Study, published in February 2022, examines options to decarbonise the heating and cooling sectors in Ireland to 2050, including options for green hydrogen.

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.