Ireland | Review of Hydrogen Consultation Responses
RESPONDENTS WERE SUPPORTIVE OF GREEN HYDROGEN
Though there is an obvious risk of selection bias, the general mood was very supportive of green hydrogen. Support for fossil hydrogen was low. Respondents were both strongly for hydrogen’s use in certain cases such as in meeting blending targets for aviation and shipping fuels, and strongly against it in others such as passenger cars and home heating. Though not always consistent, the responses showed that there was a clear appetite to decarbonise the economy, and that green hydrogen had a role to play.
CONTENTS OF A HYDROGEN STRATEGY The respondents are strongly of the opinion that the strategy should contain specific and objective goals in place of statements of ambition. Ireland has the advantage of being able to take learnings from other regions and should therefore be able to be more ambitiousin characterising what we hope to achieve, and how we will enable it.
COMPETITION IS ENCOURAGED There was a consensus on the need for support for pilot projects and hydrogen-related research and development. However, electrification was seen as the most suitable solution to many sectors and thus technology neutral as opposed to hydrogen-specific decarbonisation policy was heavily favoured. Policy intervention that curtails competition was not supported by the respondents. Similarly, where possible, policy should be based upon long-term cost benefit analysis. Many responses noted that Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfDs) appeared to meet these goals.
REDUCING COSTS IS KEY The transition at large requires that Ireland’s high-cost environment is tackled, this is a far-reaching multifaceted policy consideration beyond the scope of this consultation. Pilot projects and other forms of investment can reduce the cost of hydrogen infrastructure.
