Adopting hydrogen as a fuel could fully eliminate CO2 emissions from heavy goods vehicles in the near future, according to the representative body Hydrogen Mobility Ireland.

The organisation has prepared a White Paper in response to the government's decision to begin a public consultation on the development of a national strategy for green hydrogen, accompanied by a research paper on the benefits of green hydrogen as a renewable energy source.

According to HMI, the white paper “demonstrates how the progress of other European countries can provide a useful template for Ireland, as it seeks to develop its own strategy for the deployment of green hydrogen across public and private transport”.

Hydrogen has been endorsed at EU level, with both France and Portugal allocating €7 billion to hydrogen production projects, while Germany has allocated €8 billion as part of its national hydrogen strategy.

In addition, the UK has granted £30m for the manufacture of 124 hydrogen fuel-cell buses for Birmingham, and has introduced an £11.2m grant to develop low-cost hydrogen fuel cell technology for buses.

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HMI says that an investment proportional to Ireland’s size and commuter population will allow for 6,000 hydrogen-fuelled vehicles on the road by 2030. 

Business manager Jonathan Hogan said: “I am pleased to be joined by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to mark the launch of HMI’s White Paper and policy paper on the benefits of hydrogen.  

“HMI’s policy papers show that the production of green hydrogen at scale will facilitate Ireland in reducing its carbon emissions across transport and other industries, while creating significant opportunities for regional employment and boosting the green economy. In the context of ambitious sustainability targets outlined in both the Climate Action Plan 2021, and the EU’s Fit-for-55 package, and in light of geopolitical considerations, the need to diversify and secure Ireland’s energy supply has never been more apparent.

“The sooner that we implement a national hydrogen strategy, the sooner we will transition away from fossil fuels, towards a low carbon economy. In this spirit, HMI looks forward to working collaboratively with all stakeholders, to ensure the swift deployment of hydrogen across transport, and other industries.”

Transport and environment minister Eamon Ryan added: “Moving to cleaner and greener technologies is critical if we are to reduce the carbon footprint of our public transport system, and examining all available technologies is essential.

“I welcome this research paper which explores the potential of hydrogen and outlines how it could offer opportunities in terms of improving sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It is vital that Ireland should realise the full potential of green hydrogen in decarbonising our economy and energy and transport systems and we are taking important steps to achieve this.

“The government has just launched a public consultation on developing our national hydrogen strategy and I hope to see the strategy published by the end of the year.” 

Among the key findings of the white paper are:

• Hydrogen has the capacity to fully eliminate CO2 emissions from heavy goods vehicles 
• The production of green hydrogen will diversify Ireland’s energy supply, providing enhanced security 
• Thousands of secure, clean energy jobs can be created through producing hydrogen at scale 
• The deployment of hydrogen across transport will reduce Ireland’s carbon emissions by 2.6% by 2030 
• Development of hydrogen at scale will attract considerable Foreign Direct Investment and solidify the country’s status as a hub for renewable energy.

HMI is a group of Irish stakeholders working to develop the deployment of hydrogen across transport, to reduce carbon emissions while keeping transport practical and affordable. The representative body engages in regular research and has published a number of reports on the efficiency of hydrogen for transport, and other industries. 

It includes members from the transport and energy industries, including Toyota, Maxol, Hyundai, Energia, Gas Networks Ireland, Bord na Móna, BOC Gases Ireland, Indaver, CIE, ESB, Maxus and Air Products.