Ireland, like several countries in Europe including Britain, Holland and Germany faces the prospect of declining natural gas production and the need to introduce a zero-carbon energy solution by 2050. The country’s state-owned gas producer and distributor, Gas Networks Ireland is pioneering efforts to replace natural gas with green hydrogen. Currently, two thirds of Ireland’s natural gas come from the 260MMscf/d (million standard cubic feet per day) of gas Corrib field, off the North West Coast.

Current estimates suggest that Ireland’s gas production will run out sometime during the middle of the decade. Ireland’s domestic gas production currently meets the needs of local power stations. If nothing is done, imports of natural gas would rise leading to an increase in domestic power prices.

Therefore, Gas Networks Ireland aims to replace Irelands decline of natural gas production with green hydrogen. Much of this green hydrogen , is expected to be produced by domestic hydrogen factories, fed with power by the country’s ever-expanding fleet of on and offshore wind farms as well as land-based and floating solar parks.

This switch to green hydrogen will extend the lifespan of the country’s pipeline distribution network and help Ireland to meet its green target goals by 2050.