Hydrogen Ambitions Meet Real-World Challenges
Ireland faces significant challenges before low-carbon "green" hydrogen can be integrated into its energy mix, according to leading experts from Irish academia and industry.
Chemical engineers and decarbonisation specialists convened to assess hydrogen's potential benefits for the Irish economy, as well as the policy and cost-related hurdles involved in connecting it to the national energy grid.
Workshop Overview
A workshop hosted by IChemE's All Ireland Member Group (AIMG) at Queen's University Belfast explored how hydrogen could impact sectors and regions across the country, given Ireland's diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, biotech, cement, and heavy manufacturing.
Challenges and Costs
Low-carbon hydrogen remains expensive to produce and would currently cost consumers more than conventional gas-powered electricity.
According to Marcus Bishop, AIMG secretary, hydrogen faces challenges in decarbonising industry while keeping energy costs manageable.
Author's summary: Ireland faces significant challenges in integrating low-carbon hydrogen into its energy mix.