Ireland’s first green hydrogen facility is planned for Cork Harbour

The €120m plant in Aghada is expected to open before the end of 2023

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney joined renewable energy company - EI-H2 - as they announced plans for Ireland’s first Green Hydrogen facility. Pictured are EI-H2 founder Pearse Flynn (on right) and CEO of EI-H2 Tom Lynch. Picture: Brian Lougheed

Plans have been announced for Ireland's first green hydrogen facility that will be located in Cork Harbour.

Energy firm EI-H2 intends to seek planning permission for a 50MW electrolysis plant in Aghada, County Cork, which when operational will remove 63,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year from Irish industry and power generation.

Upon completion, the site will be one of the biggest green energy facilities of its kind in the world. EI-H2 is to commence an intensive round of pre-planning discussions with Cork County Council, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and other interested parties ahead of the formal lodging of planning permission later this year.

If approved, 85 full-time direct and indirect jobs will be created and it is expected EI-H2 Aghada will be operational before the end of 2023. The cost of construction and connection to the electricity grid is expected to be in the region of €120m.   

The production of hydrogen is expected to form a key strand of global efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Hydrogen can be produced relatively easily and can be stored in significant quantities for later use and can be added to the existing natural gas networks. EI-H2 chose Cork’s Lower Harbour for its first site given its strategic location. The facility is designed to assist commercial customers struggling to reduce their carbon output, who will increasingly need environmentally sound and sustainable energy alternatives.

CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB

The technology planned for the Aghada site allows for surplus electricity from renewable generation, particularly offshore wind, to be utilised in a process of electrolysis to break down water into its component elements of hydrogen and oxygen.

The Aghada site will aim to provide over 20 tonnes of hydrogen per day to the commercial market. The green hydrogen produced at the plant can be added to existing natural gas supplies, helping high volume energy producers to reduce their carbon emissions.

EI-H2 is owned by Cork businessman, Pearse Flynn, who says that Ireland is starting to take leadership in tackling climate change.

“The production of hydrogen from excess wind capacity will play a significant role in Ireland’s decarbonisation, given that Ireland could be generating 8 GW of offshore wind by 2030. There inevitably will be ‘curtailed’ energy that will go to waste unless we find ways of using it. EI-H2 is planning the production of safe and environmentally sound green hydrogen that will allow industry to decarbonise."

"This initiative will create and sustain local jobs, and go a long way towards helping Ireland meet its international obligations on climate change.” 

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, has welcomed the development. “Ireland faces a challenge to decarbonise over the next decade, and a plan like that being put forward by EI-H2 would go some way towards helping us achieve what might now seem like impossible targets. Every business in Ireland should be looking at ways to decarbonise, starting with the largest, and working our way through our entire economy.

"The production of green hydrogen using surplus wind energy is just one way that we can help put Ireland on a solid environmental footing, and show global leadership in energy projects.” 

Pearse Flynn has been working closely with Energy Services, an energy consultancy firm with experience in grid connections and energy markets operation. These are seen as essential for the integration of renewable energy from offshore wind and other sources into green hydrogen and ammonia production facilities.

The proposed site has been selected because of its proximity to an existing triangle of energy generation, including power generating stations, heavy industry and an oil refinery. There is also potential to export green hydrogen in the future using a fleet of environmentally friendly ships.

By 2050, green hydrogen will account for 80% of the shipping industry’s energy demand, the vast majority of which will be in the form of green ammonia. The same product will meet an estimated 60% of the aviation sector’s energy demand.

The newly appointed CEO of EI-H2 is Tom Lynch, who has experience in the energy sector both in Ireland and overseas. Mr Lynch said Ireland has incredible potential as an emerging leader in green hydrogen.

“We have identified East Cork as the first site to develop this safe form of new energy, and will be looking at other strategic locations around the country where the power of excess energy can be harnessed.” EI-H2 will shortly begin an intensive round of pre-planning discussions with Cork County Council, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and other interested parties ahead of the formal lodging of planning permission later this year."