Energy storage developer dCarbonX and Ireland’s energy firm, ESB have joined hands to develop a large-scale facility for the offshore green hydrogen storage
A view of a gas reservoir at Kinsale Head, off the shores of the Irish Sea. Credit: Kinsale Energy
Energy storage developer dCarbonX and Ireland’s energy firm, ESB have joined hands to develop a large-scale facility for storing green hydrogen offshore. Known as the ‘Green Hydrogen at Kinsale’ project, it has a projected capacity of storing up to 3 TWh of green hydrogen and ammonia, a common hydrogen carrier. The project aims to repurpose the defunct Kinsale Head natural gas reservoirs for hydrogen storage.
dCarbonX COO, John O’Sullivan said: “The Kinsale Head reservoirs hosted safe, secure and reliable offshore natural gas subsurface energy storage for many years, underpinning Ireland’s security of gas supply. As subsurface lead for the original natural gas storage development, the dCarbonX and ESB partnership is optimally positioned to repurpose and develop these reservoirs for green hydrogen storage. Kinsale Head is the third Irish offshore location that we are assessing with ESB for green hydrogen storage and we look forward to providing further updates as appropriate.”
The two companies began evaluating the potential of using decommissioned gas reservoirs to store hydrogen earlier this year. The exhaustive process included work on subsurface analysis, mineralogy, capacity modelling, injection and withdrawal rates, compression, drilling evaluation, well design, retention assurance, monitoring, electrolysis and infrastructure tie-ins. On receiving encouraging reports, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing the reservoirs as hydrogen storage facilities. The joint effort will also include the development of a ‘Green Hydrogen Valley’ around the Poolbeg pensinsula in Dublin. The initiative will work towards decarbonizing heavy transport, shipping, industry and power generation while also integrating green hydrogen into the economy.
ESB and dCarbonX have also stated that the reservoirs will store enough hydrogen for it to be used to balance Ireland’s electricity grid. Hydrogen produced from surplus wind power could be used to power the grid in low-wind conditions.
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