Green Hydrogen Production Plant to be built in Offaly
Planning permission has been granted to Bord na Móna for the development of a 2MW pilot scale Hydrogen Electrolysis Plant in Mount Lucas, Co Offaly. Construction is set to commence in 2024, with production to begin by 2025.
Once operational, the new plant will generate over 200,000 kilograms of green hydrogen per annum. The green energy produced at the Mount Lucas site will be used to help decarbonise certain elements of our national transport sector and will produce enough green energy every year to replace over half a million litres of diesel.
This project, the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, will support the Government's newly introduced National Hydrogen Strategy, and their ambitions for scaled production of green hydrogen for a zero-carbon economy. Additionally, the hydrogen outputs from the plant will help to support energy requirements for 'difficult-to-decarbonise' industries where other energy solutions like electrification are not viable.
The plant forms part of Bord na Móna’s commitment to the continued expansion of its renewable energy and climate solutions portfolio to support Ireland’s green energy requirements by 2030. Investment in green hydrogen-focused projects like the upcoming plant in Mount Lucas is integral to Bord na Móna’s ‘Brown to Green’ transition, and its contribution to a more sustainable future for Ireland which is fuelled by green energy.
John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna, commented: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our hydrogen production facility at Mount Lucas which marks a significant milestone for Bord na Móna as we continue our transition from fossil fuels to green energy production.”
“We also welcome the publication of the Government’s new National Hydrogen Strategy to support continued progress in the area of green hydrogen. The strategy provides a roadmap for the development of the hydrogen economy in Ireland. We in Bord na Móna certainly feel green hydrogen will have a key role to play in Ireland’s energy transition and will become part of our energy system as we seek to decarbonise the wider economy.”
“We particularly welcome the commitment to establish an innovation fund to provide co-funding supports for demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain, as such funding could lead to the early deployment of our Mount Lucas Green Hydrogen project.”