Ulster Hydrogen Valley

Project overview

The Ulster Hydrogen Valley concept, published on the EU Hydrogen Valleys platform in May 2023, proposes several electrolysis stations with a combined capacity of 3.45GWe, fed with green offshore wind power through private-wire cables and transformers to produce green hydrogen.

The electrolysers would be connected through a network of dedicated hydrogen pipelines that also incorporates the Islandmagee salt cavern storage facility, with a capacity of 7 × 70 million m³ (at STP). Additional short-term diurnal storage would come from line-packing in the hydrogen pipelines, which extend to both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

Technology and approach

The concept shows several potential uses for green hydrogen, including supply to combined cycle gas turbines (CCGTs), natural gas blending, industrial heating, and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) refuelling.

These uses are all technically possible, but Northern Ireland does not yet have the legislation and regulation to cover them, so hydrogen projects cannot progress soon. Because a well-established global market for e-methanol already exists, the concept concluded that e-methanol offers a suitable route to market.

What the concept proposes

• Large-scale electrolysis: 3.45GWe combined capacity powered by offshore wind
• Salt cavern storage: the Islandmagee salt cavern facility, with 7 × 70 million m³ of storage capacity
• Pipeline network: dedicated hydrogen pipelines connecting production, storage and distribution
• Cross-border links: pipeline extensions to both Scotland and the Republic of Ireland
• E-methanol route to market: e-methanol production as an immediate commercial pathway
• Uses in several sectors: power generation, transport, industrial heating and gas blending

The concept concluded that e-methanol could reach market before hydrogen in Northern Ireland.

Project status

The concept was published on the EU Hydrogen Valleys platform in May 2023.