ESB is set to lead a landmark study evaluating the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives in Ireland, as well as potential transportation routes to export the surplus to Germany.  

According to the company, the HYreland project will be the first of the energy partnership between Ireland and Germany and will be carried out in collaboration with the German government (BMBF) and the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications (DECC). 

HYreland will focus on the economic and technical aspects that would arise from a cross-border hydrogen agreement between Ireland and Germany. The assessment will be based on two specific locations at ESB facilities in Moneypoint, County Clare, and Aghada, County Cork, with preliminary results expected to be completed by the end of 2025. 

The project will be spearheaded by Fraunhofer ISE, a globally recognized German research institute, alongside the IERC (International Energy Research Centre) located in Ireland, and will involve contributions from selected industrial partner organizations. 

ESB’s Generation and Trading CEO, Jim Dollard, noted that "to support electrical systems, green hydrogen will be a clean energy source that can be used when electricity generated from wind and solar energy is low. Similar studies conducted in other parts of the world provide a reference and benchmark for the HYreland Project moving forward. We look forward to working closely with DECC and the German government to further develop the ongoing energy cooperation between Ireland and Germany." 

Meanwhile, the German Ambassador to Ireland, David Gill, emphasized that "green hydrogen will play a decisive role in Europe's ecological transformation. I am confident that our bilateral initiative will make a significant contribution to the global effort. Depending on the results, we will be able to harness Ireland's full potential in this regard for Germany and for Europe as a whole."