Engineers Ireland has welcomed the government's publication of Ireland's National Hydrogen Strategy. The strategy sets out the strategic vision for the role that hydrogen will play in the country's energy system, looking to its long-term role as a key component of a zero-carbon economy and the short-term actions that need to be delivered over the coming years to enable the development of the hydrogen sector here.

The strategy aligns with Engineers Ireland's submission on 'developing a hydrogen strategy for Ireland', which was submitted to the government in September 2022.

Can support decarbonisation across several sectors

In its submission, Engineers Ireland highlighted the potential of hydrogen as a renewable and zero-carbon fuel that can support decarbonisation across several sectors, such as heavy goods transport, high-temperature heat for industry, and, eventually, electricity generation.

The organisation also emphasised the need for a clear Irish hydrogen strategy that commits to rapid scale-up in green hydrogen production and use; this must be actively managed to ensure displacement of fossil fuel use and incentivises the location of hydrogen research, development and commercialisation activities in Ireland.

Engineers Ireland also stressed the importance of developing suitable infrastructure for hydrogen, such as large-scale renewables producing electricity providing energy to grid-connected electrolysers along with very large-scale geological hydrogen storage.

It also called for proactive engagement with the public on the benefits and opportunities of hydrogen deployment, which can be achieved with the 'Hydrogen Demonstration Fund'.

Damien Owens, director general of Engineers Ireland, said: "We are delighted to see the publication of Ireland's National Hydrogen Strategy, which marks an important step in developing an indigenous hydrogen industry in Ireland.

"We believe hydrogen can play a vital role in decarbonising our economy, enhancing energy security, and developing industrial opportunities. We look forward to working with the government and other stakeholders to implement the strategy and realise the engineering potential of hydrogen for Ireland."