Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the requirement for natural gas will cease; the expected cost of a hydrogen future compared to other energy generation possibilities such as nuclear or battery storage; if there are plans for hydrogen in the economy or an economy totally run by hydrogen (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18946/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Ireland’s 2021 Climate Action Plan sets us on a pathway to reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels dramatically by 2030 in the context of reach net zero emission by 2050. However, as set out in the November 2021 Government Policy Statement on Security of Electricity of Supply there will be a continued need beyond 2030 for gas-fired conventional generation to support and back-up the roll-out of renewable energy.The Climate Action Plan 2021

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. The Plan contains a suite of actions relating to green hydrogen in the electricity, enterprise and transport sectors 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'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. 

My Department is currently preparing a public consultation on a hydrogen strategy for Ireland. I expect this strategy focussing on the development of green hydrogen to be included in Climate Action Plan 2022. The role of green hydrogen in Ireland's energy mix, alongside alternative technologies such as batteries, is under consideration. Nuclear powered electricity generation plants are prohibited in Ireland and the Government has no plans to revisit the prohibition on, or explore the development of, nuclear powered electricity generation in Ireland.