Ireland has unveiled plans for a €2 billion ($2.3bn) long duration energy storage facility that will use excess renewable energy to generate green hydrogen and provide electricity.

The project will use surplus renewable energy generated off-site, which Irish company Net Zero Energy (NZE) said is being lost as a result of lack of demand at certain times and inadequate grid capacity to absorb power. 

NZE said on June 8, the 600MW facility, the Rathrush Green Energy Park that the surplus wind and solar energy will not be stored directly in batteries but converted into green hydrogen ― which will then be compressed and pumped deep underground in specially lined rock caverns. This can then be delivered into the national grid providing backup when the need arises and combating the issue of renewable energy intermittency.

NZE chairman Tim Cowhig said: “By making available 600MW of renewable energy at the flick of a switch, this project can satisfy as much as 10% of Ireland’s peak energy requirement.

“Ireland has never been in such a precarious position in terms of our energy security. We spend €10 billion annually importing fossil fuels. This project is particularly timely with widespread debate and focus on Ireland’s climate change targets and the enormous, subsequent fines which would result if we fail to meet them.”