‘Serious concerns’ raised about underground hydrogen facility in Rathoe
The location of the proposed site just outside Rathoe. Credit: Rathrush Green Energy Park
ELECTED representatives in the Tullow Municipal District have expressed “serious concerns” about a hydrogen storage facility that has been proposed for the area and have also called for further consultation with the company before the council makes any submissions about it.
In early June, Irish company Net Zero Energy announced plans for a €2 billion long-duration energy storage facility located near Rathoe, which would store the hydrogen in rock caverns deep underground.
The company says the development will employ up to 1,500 workers on site during the construction phase and will create a further 70 long-term, highly skilled jobs upon completion.
Fianna Fáil cllr John Pender raised the issue at the July meeting of Tullow municipal district, following a public consultation meeting about the proposed plant that was held recently, at which a large number of locals expressed their concerns.
“There are serious concerns in the Rathoe area about this, there is a lot of uncertainty and people don’t know the facts of it,” cllr Pender said.
Cllr Pender asked whether representatives from Net Zero Energy could be invited to meet with elected members of the district.
The company had previously presented plans for the project to all elected members of the county council in early June.
A planning application is set to be submitted directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála in the coming months. The project bypasses Carlow Co Council’s planning process as it is considered a ‘critical infrastructure project.’ However, cllr Pender said at the meeting that the company was “all things to all people” and asked for further clarification on the project.
“I think we should invite them here to a specific meeting for the Tullow municipal district immediately,” he said.
Cllr Will Paton added that the council’s chief executive and planning department should also meet with the elected members before the council drafts its submission to An Coimisiún Pleanála where constituent’s concerns can also be expressed.
“There will be huge amounts of hydrogen stored underground and people have serious security concerns about that,” cllr Paton said, adding that some local houses are just 500 metres from the proposed facility.
Cllr Paton also raised questions about the level of expertise in the council around such technology and wondered whether the council should consider bringing in consultants from abroad for advice.
“This is untrained, untrusted technology. I don’t feel equipped to do it, I doubt if anyone in the planning department is au fait. They are probably pretty good with solar and wind farms at this stage, but hydrogen storage facilities?” cllr Paton said.
Cllr Charlie Murphy, presiding over his first meeting since his election as cathaoirleach of the district, described the consultation as “sketchy.” “If you are going to do a €2 billion project, I think your consultation would be more than one information meeting in Rathoe. To me, that isn’t enough,” he said.
In reference to the construction of other large energy infrastructure projects in the district, cllr Murphy said it was “the same story again. It is like mushrooms, keep in the dark and feed them sh*t.”
Sinn Féin cllr Jim Deane, who attended the residents’ meeting in Rathoe, said he “wouldn’t have much faith in the company if this is the way they’re going to conduct their business”.
“I think the people of Rathoe and the wider area deserve a hell of a lot more respect than what they have been given so far,” cllr Deane said, adding that he was fearful of Carlow Co Council potentially being used as a “guinea pig,” as this is the first project of its kind in the country.
A public information day is due to be held in Rathoe community hall on Wednesday 12 August from 2-9pm.
