Rathoe hydrogen storage project to hold public information day
The location of the proposed site just outside Rathoe. Credit: Rathrush Green Energy Park
A PUBLIC information day regarding the proposed hydrogen storage facility in Rathoe will be hosted by the project's developer next month.
The information day for the facility, to be known as the Rathrush Green Energy Park, will be held in Rathoe Community Hall on Wednesday, August 12, from 2pm to 9pm, and is open to all members of the public.
Net Zero Energy (NZE) first released plans for the €2 billion project on June 8, which will employ up to 1,500 workers on site during construction. The company says a wide range of specialists will be present to answer the public's queries.
A statement from NZE said the event is intended to "give residents an opportunity to ask questions about all aspects of the proposal, including planning, environmental studies, traffic, construction, hydrogen storage and community benefits."
The company says it will also be seeking the input of the public in relation to a community benefit and near neighbour fund, which will provide around €12 million to the locality over the project's lifetime.
So far, the community liaison team for the project has "managed in excess of 100 interactions" with members of the public, which include in-person conversations, emails, meetings, text messages and phone calls.
NZE Chief Executive Peter Harte said the project would help lower electricity prices for consumers.
"The response to the project has been significant, with the public genuinely interested in our energy dilemma in the context of both security of supply and decarbonising our grid," Mr Harte said.
NZE says that, upon completion, the facility will save an estimated 180,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum, which equates to taking about 40,000 cars off the road.
Currently, a large quantity of renewable energy generated across the country is being lost as a result of inadequate grid capacity and a lack of demand at certain times.
The facility will store energy in the form of hydrogen, with the hydrogen produced using a process known as electrolysis that is powered by renewable energy generated off-site.
This hydrogen will then be stored deep underground at the facility in lined rock caverns, before being converted to electricity to be delivered to the national grid.
