Ireland has shown its commitment to developing a new multi-modal hydrogen transport facility in the last conference on the subject of the Renewable Energy Opportunity in the West of Ireland, hosted by the Port of Galway.

The Galway Hydrogen Hub (GH2) consortium’s proposal is to develop a Hydrogen Valley similar to those launched in other European countries in the Galway region. The facility will provide green hydrogen for use in transport, industry, and within local communities. The intended hydrogen transport hub could be expected to be fully operational by the second half of 2024.

John O’Sullivan, SSE Renewables’ Project Manager for GH2 said: “Our consortium has come together with the objective of not only using green hydrogen to realize new renewable energy solutions for Ireland but to also deliver the country’s first Hydrogen Valley. Green hydrogen is gaining global recognition as a means of decarbonizing heavy duty and long-distance transport as well as industry. The development of Ireland’s first Hydrogen Valley in Galway Harbour will allow us to utilize indigenous renewable energy to produce green hydrogen for use by local air, sea, road, and rail transport alongside industry.

Green hydrogen is created when renewable electricity is used to split water and separate it into oxygen and hydrogen. While other fuels create toxic carbon dioxide when burned, hydrogen merely discharges vapors into the atmosphere. It can be compressed or liquefied after production, allowing it to be more easily transported and stored for months. Furthermore, green hydrogen can be utilized as a zero-emission fuel in applications that are difficult to electrify directly, such as vehicles or energy-intensive industries. Most energy analysts agree that green hydrogen is critical to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the need to import fossil fuels while avoiding the worst consequences of climate change.