Ireland Plans 600 MW Green Hydrogen Storage Hub to Strengthen Energy Security
Plans have been unveiled for a major 600 MW long-duration energy storage facility in County Carlow that would use surplus renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen, store it underground and convert it back into power when needed, in what developers say could significantly enhance Ireland’s energy security and grid stability.
The project, known as Rathrush Green Energy Park, is being developed by Irish company Net Zero Energy and is estimated to require an investment of around €2 billion. It is designed to address the growing challenge of renewable energy intermittency by capturing excess wind and solar power that would otherwise be curtailed due to grid constraints or lack of demand.
According to the proposal announced on 8 June 2026, surplus renewable electricity would be used to generate green hydrogen, which would then be stored in lined rock caverns located on site. The hydrogen would later be converted back into electricity and supplied to the national grid during periods of peak demand or low renewable output.
The developers estimate that the facility could displace around 180,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to removing approximately 40,000 cars from the road. They also claim the project could provide up to 600 MW of dispatchable power, covering as much as 10% of Ireland’s peak electricity demand.
Net Zero Energy said the scheme would make use of renewable energy that is currently wasted due to system limitations, arguing that converting this surplus into stored hydrogen would reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and improve resilience against global energy price shocks.
The project is expected to involve up to 1,500 construction jobs at peak activity, with around 70 long-term operational roles once completed. The developer also highlighted the potential for the site to support Ireland’s wider climate targets and reduce the risk of financial penalties linked to emissions compliance.
The facility is described as offering significantly greater storage capacity than existing Irish energy infrastructure, with claims that it could store around 30 times more energy than the Turlough Hill pumped storage station and provide several times the generation capacity of Ardnacrusha.
A planning application is expected to be submitted following a community consultation process later this year. If approved, the project would represent one of Europe’s largest integrated hydrogen-based energy storage schemes, combining renewable generation, hydrogen production, underground storage and grid-scale power dispatch in a single facility.
