A recent study reveals that by 2050, the manufacture of sustainable aviation fuels made from hydrogen for use in aircraft and shipping could result in the creation of 10,500 jobs nationwide.
According to Hydrogen Mobility Ireland’s research, creating domestically used fuels might boost the Irish economy by up to €230 million annually.
This would increase to almost €2.1 billion if Irish businesses could access the expanding international export market for these fuels.
While the economic benefit to Ireland from marine usage would range from €45 to €75 million locally and up to €22 million internationally.
According to the report, sustainable e-fuels may provide 50% of Ireland’s future aviation needs.
However, the research claims that certain actions must be taken in order to accomplish the goal, including the availability of enough amounts of renewable energy in order to assist develop the hydrogen required to make e-fuels.
According to the report, in order to reassure investors and project developers, the government must also make clear and firm guarantees on its e-fuels policy.
The analysis comes to the conclusion that adequate money is also required to guarantee the feasibility of initiatives involving hydrogen and e-fuels.
“Ireland must now signal its own intent in this regard through concrete actions; leveraging the country’s significant wind energy capacity to facilitate the production of e-fuels, allocating sufficient funding to planned and future e-fuels projects and committing to a defined strategy to meet EU e-fuels targets,” says Jonathan Hogan, Business Manager at Hydrogen Mobility Ireland
“Doing so, will enable the growth of a domestic hydrogen and an e-fuels ecosystem which collectively, can create thousands of jobs, decarbonise transport and other industries, and open up access to a thriving global marketplace.”
A number of countries across Europe, including France, Germany, Norway and Sweden, have committed to the future use of alternative fuels in transport, either through the implementation of projects or the authorisation of legislative mandates for them.
The European Parliament has provided strong policy signals of support, with the EU having agreed a target of use of 35% e-sustainable aviation fuel by 2050.
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, launched the research and stated that scaling up green hydrogen generation offers clear advantages for Ireland.
“Going forward, Ireland is uniquely positioned to export as both a net producer of green hydrogen, and as a producer of renewable fuels derived from hydrogen,” he said.
“It is therefore imperative that Ireland’s hydrogen potential is fully realised – and the Government is taking important steps to achieve this.”