Gas Networks Ireland and Corrib JV pilot project at Bellanaboy aims to test renewable hydrogen production and position Corrib as a future clean energy hub.
Gas Networks Ireland and the Corrib Joint Venture, comprising Nephin Energy and Vermilion Energy, have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to explore green hydrogen production at the Bellanaboy Bridge Gas Terminal in Co Mayo.
The initiative is designed to assess whether renewable electricity and existing gas infrastructure at the site could support industrial‑scale hydrogen output in the years ahead.
“As Ireland moves towards a net‑zero energy system, it is important to examine how the gas network could safely and efficiently accommodate green hydrogen”
The pilot is part of the Corrib JV’s Atlantic Energy at Corrib programme, which is examining long‑term opportunities for the terminal as production from the offshore gas field continues to decline.
Early assessments by the partners suggest that green hydrogen stands out as a promising option because of the terminal’s connection to the national gas transmission network and the strength of Mayo’s wind resources.
Engine for job creation
The companies said that converting parts of the Corrib infrastructure could help sustain high‑value jobs in the region, build specialist technical skills and attract private investment linked to emerging clean‑energy technologies. The project also aligns with the Government’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which positions green hydrogen as a central element of Ireland’s pathway to a net‑zero energy system by mid‑century.
Jarlath Trench, managing director of Vermilion in Ireland, said the collaboration builds on a long relationship between the partners.
“This project reflects years of working together on Ireland’s energy infrastructure,” he said. “Strategic partnerships between infrastructure operators and energy producers are vital to advancing green hydrogen in a responsible way and supporting the industrial transition to net zero.”
Tom O’Brien, chief executive of Nephin Energy Group, described the pilot as the company’s second initiative aligned with technologies supported under the EU Net‑Zero Industry Act. The move follows a biomethane collaboration with Gas Networks Ireland announced last year.
“Through our Nephin Renewable Gas business we have already made meaningful progress in biomethane development in Mayo and further afield,” he said. “We are now carrying that momentum into green hydrogen at Corrib. The site has the potential to become one of Ireland’s key hydrogen hubs by making use of its existing infrastructure and strong renewable energy resources.”
David Kelly, chief executive of Gas Networks Ireland, said the partnership will help the company understand how future fuels can be integrated into the country’s energy system.
“As Ireland moves towards a net‑zero energy system, it is important to examine how the gas network could safely and efficiently accommodate green hydrogen,” he said. “This work will support that learning process, feed into our wider hydrogen initiatives and help shape future network planning.”
Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains the national gas network, which includes almost fifteen thousand kilometres of pipelines. The organisation plans to adapt the system over time to transport renewable gases, with separate future networks dedicated to biomethane and green hydrogen. The company has identified opportunities for Ireland to become an exporter of renewable energy in the long term.
The Corrib project is at an early stage, with feasibility and technical studies to be carried out under the new agreement. If successful, the partners believe Bellanaboy could evolve into a strategic site for clean‑energy production and play a significant role in Ireland’s shift away from fossil fuels.
Top image: Tom O’Brien Nephin Energy Group Chief Executive; David Kelly, Chief Executive of Gas Networks Ireland; Jarlath Trench, Managing Director of Vermilion in Ireland
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