Green light for massive hydrogen production plant in Offaly

Bord na Móna is launching a new 2MW pilot scale Hydrogen Electrolysis Plant in Mount Lucas, having secured planning permission from Offaly County Council for the proposed development.

Once operational, the new plant will generate over 200,000 kilograms of green hydrogen per annum. This green energy produced at the Mount Lucas site will be used to help decarbonise certain elements of our  national transport sector and will produce enough green energy every year to replace over half a million litres of diesel.   

The plant at Mount Lucas is part of the first phase of Bord na Móna’s overall hydrogen development strategy with construction set to commence in 2024, and production to begin by 2025. This project is the first of its kind in the Republic of Ireland and an important step for the green hydrogen industry, as it will support the achievement of our national target of 2GW of green hydrogen energy by 2030.

Developments at the Mount Lucas plant align with the Government's new National Hydrogen Strategy and its ambitions to scale the production of renewable hydrogen to support Ireland’s decarbonisation requirements and energy security needs. Additionally, the hydrogen outputs from the plant will help support energy requirements for ‘difficult-to-decarbonise’ industries where other energy solutions like electrification are not viable. 

This project forms part of Bord na Móna’s commitment to the continued expansion of its renewable energy and climate solutions portfolio to support Ireland’s green energy requirements by 2030. Investment in green hydrogen-focused projects like this upcoming plant in Mount Lucas is integral to Bord na Móna’s ‘Brown to Green’ transition, and its contribution to a more sustainable future for Ireland which is fuelled by green energy.

John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy commented: “We are delighted to announce the launch of our hydrogen production facility at Mount Lucas which marks a significant milestone for Bord na Móna as we continue our transition fossil fuels to green energy production. We are looking forward to proceeding with the commercial development phase of the project leading to construction and full commercial operation by 2025, as well as  the green employment opportunities that a development such as this will facilitate now and in the future.

“We also welcome the welcome the publication of the Government’s new National Hydrogen Strategy to support continued progress in the area of green hydrogen. The strategy provides a roadmap for the development of the hydrogen economy in Ireland. We in Bord na Móna certainly feel green hydrogen will have a key role to play in Ireland’s energy transition and will become part of our energy system as we seek to decarbonise the wider economy. The publication of the National Hydrogen Strategy will help kick-start that journey. We particularly welcome the commitment to establish an innovation fund to provide co-funding supports for demonstration projects across the hydrogen value chain, as such funding could lead to the early deployment of our Mountlucas Green Hydrogen project.

“The development of the Mount Lucas project will help support the ambitions set out in this strategy, as well as marking another important step in Bord na Móna’s Brown to Green transition and our commitment to continue expanding our range of renewable energy and climate solutions projects in line with Ireland’s 2030 carbon emissions targets.”