ESB and dCarbonX have signed a joint venture agreement that will allow the companies to progress large-scale energy storage projects off the coast of Ireland
Since Q2 2021, ESB, Ireland’s largest energy provider, and dCarbonX, an affiliate of Snam, Europe’s largest gas storage provider and gas infrastructure company, have been working together to assess and develop Irish offshore green hydrogen subsurface storage.
ESB and dCarbonX believe there is significant potential to develop large-scale storage capacity off the Irish coast and intend to actively explore and develop opportunities.
The joint venture will focus on three specific green hydrogen storage opportunities based around proposed decarbonisation clusters – east of Dublin’s Poolbeg, west of ESB’s Green Atlantic Moneypoint project supporting the Shannon Estuary cluster, and south of Aghada in Cork (Project Kestrel).
Project Kestrel envisages the redevelopment of the decommissioned gas reservoirs at the Kinsale Head field for green hydrogen storage.
ESB executive director, generation and trading Jim Dollard said, “Mirroring the developments across Europe, ESB recognises the importance of large-scale energy storage and the role green hydrogen will play in enabling a net-zero future.
“This joint venture agreement provides an expanded platform to deliver key strategic integrated assets that can that help Ireland to meet its climate objectives, while also supporting energy security. We are delighted to be partnering with dCarbonX and Snam on these projects.”
dCarbonX chief executive Tony O’Reilly said, “Signing of this joint venture agreement with ESB is another crucial step in the development of large-scale energy storage solutions for Ireland.
“Working with the backing of our shareholder Snam, dCarbonX has already begun the assessment of suitable offshore reservoirs that can support the storage of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers.We look forward to progressing these opportunities with ESB.”
ESB said it is committed to the future delivery of green hydrogen production and storage in Ireland to ultimately supplant the use of fossil fuels with Ireland’s significant wind resources providing a unique opportunity for the production of green hydrogen via electrolysis.
