European renewable energy developer Source Galileo and green hydrogen producer Lhyfe have unveiled plans to develop commercial-scale green and renewable hydrogen production units in Ireland and the UK.
This strategic partnership, solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aims to deploy production facilities powered by renewable energy, making significant strides towards the net-zero goals of both nations.
Source Galileo and Lhyfe, pooling their expertise, envision generating and supplying environmentally-friendly hydrogen gas to a diverse range of customers across industries and transportation. The primary objective is to contribute to the decarbonization efforts of these sectors by providing a clean and sustainable energy alternative.
The partnership’s initial focus is on establishing green hydrogen production units in Ireland, with ongoing plans for multiple plants in the UK. By leveraging economies of scale, the companies aim to expedite the deployment of green hydrogen, catering to the escalating demand from companies seeking alternatives to natural gas and other fossil fuels.
Both companies will initially concentrate on utilizing electricity from onshore renewable sources. However, the partnership has long-term aspirations of tapping into the substantial offshore wind potential in Ireland and the UK. This strategic move is aimed at overcoming potential constraints in electricity grids, paving the way for the production of green hydrogen on a larger scale.
The UK’s commitment to deploying 50GW of offshore wind by 2030 and Ireland’s expected development of at least 20GW of offshore wind by 2040 aligns seamlessly with the partnership’s goals.
Lhyfe, a pioneering force in green and renewable hydrogen production, has already made significant strides in the field. The company’s operational plant in Pays de La Loire has been running since the second half of 2021, with additional sites inaugurated in Occitanie and Brittany in December 2023. Currently, five more sites are under construction or extension across Europe.
With an ambitious target of achieving a green hydrogen production capacity of 200MW by the end of 2026 and an impressive goal of 3GW by 2030, Lhyfe is positioned as a key player in the transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Source Galileo, founded to expedite large-scale renewable energy projects, boasts a substantial pipeline of approximately 10GW of offshore wind and hydrogen projects in development across Ireland, the UK, and Norway. The company is not only focusing on offshore wind but is also actively involved in the development of onshore battery storage and solar projects.
Both Ireland and the UK have outlined comprehensive hydrogen strategies. Ireland’s National Hydrogen Strategy, published in July 2023, envisions the development of 2GW of hydrogen production from offshore wind farms by 2030. On the other hand, the UK Government has doubled its low-carbon hydrogen production target from 5GW to 10GW by 2030, with a significant portion coming from green hydrogen.
