ESB has launched a demonstration of hydrogen power generation, showcasing Ireland's first deployment of hydrogen-to-electricity fuel cells.

This week, a demonstration of these units is taking place at ESB’s headquarters on Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin 2. Manufactured by GeoPura, a UK-based renewable energy company, in collaboration with Siemens Energy, these hydrogen power units use fuel cell technology. They can generate up to 250kW of clean electricity as needed, with pure water as the sole by-product, supporting the network effectively.

In a net zero world where Ireland has large volumes of renewables, converting renewable energy into green hydrogen, and storing it for use in periods when the sun is not shining and wind is not blowing, will be extremely beneficial. The deployment of electrolysers (electricity to hydrogen) and fuel cells (hydrogen to electricity) enable this conversion process.

The initial phase involves deploying fuel cells as part of a demonstration-scale green hydrogen lighthouse project. The subsequent phase will introduce an electrolyser at ESB's Aghada Power Station in County Cork, with the entire project set for completion by 2025.

Upon completion, ESB will showcase the processes of converting electricity to hydrogen and vice versa. This initiative will illustrate how green hydrogen can significantly reduce Ireland's emissions, especially in challenging sectors like industrial processes and specific transportation uses such as heavy goods vehicles and aviation.

-- Advertisement --

Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation and Trading, commented: "We know that to reach net zero in the timeframe that we have set out other sources of clean energy will be required to support the electricity system here in Ireland. At ESB, we believe green hydrogen will be one of those sources and I am really excited to be here today to see first-hand how the hydrogen power units we will deploy as part of our wider Lighthouse Project will work. We would like to thank our partner, GeoPura, for their innovative work on this project. ESB will use this technology to build capability and understanding of the role green hydrogen will play in the net zero energy system of the future. This will be an important energy source for backup dispatchable electricity generation at times when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining."

Alistair Gemmell, Chief Business Development Officer at GeoPura, praised ESB for their leadership in Ireland's transition to a zero-carbon future, commenting: "We’re thrilled to partner with ESB on this groundbreaking project, marking a significant step towards a zero-carbon future for Ireland. By showing that green hydrogen can replace fossil fuels for power generation across various sectors, ESB is leading the way in reducing climate-damaging emissions and improving local air quality, generating clean, reliable energy to deliver a more sustainable and resilient energy system. This ambitious Lighthouse Project not only protects our planet but also our health, setting a strong example for others to follow and we look forward to continuing to support ESB to implement its hydrogen strategy and reduce emissions in Ireland."

These units have already powered large-scale events such as festivals and television productions and have replaced diesel generators in construction settings. ESB plans to conduct a series of demonstrations showcasing the versatility of hydrogen fuel cell technology in various applications across the country in late 2024 and early 2025.

This project supports Ireland's National Hydrogen Strategy which identifies hydrogen's key role in decarbonising hard-to-abate parts of the economy and enhancing energy security. Green hydrogen is produced from renewable electricity – specifically hydro, wind or solar.