• Planned Belfast underground hydrogen storage capacity expanded significantly
• Capacity increased for 70 MW of electrolysers – one of the largest in Europe  
• Hydrogen to cut Belfast’s future natural gas requirements 
• Storage will promote further wind & solar renewable energy projects

dCarbonX announces that plans are advancing rapidly for the development of large and secure underground hydrogen storage in Belfast, Northern Ireland with a target to reduce carbon intensive natural gas usage.

This ambitious decarbonisation plan will use 70 MW of electrolysers to generate hydrogen which is significant in a broader European context.  Breakthrough electrolyser technology will be used in the process of splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. 

The hydrogen storage solution is being developed by dCarbonX for its partner B9 Energy (“B9”). Both companies are members of the ‘Belfast Power-to-X’ (“BP2X”) Collaborative Network, which is focused on the decarbonisation of the Belfast city region. BP2X is supported by Invest Northern Ireland through its Collaborative Growth Programme.

To deliver on this ambitious goal, dCarbonX is developing a pioneering & safe subsurface hydrogen storage solution using liquid hydrogen.  This scalable technology could also potentially be rolled out globally at storage sites such as processing hubs & refuelling stations.

Hydrogen storage is the essential element to fully exploit the energy potential of intermittent renewables such as wind & solar.  Hydrogen is a zero-carbon fuel and storing hydrogen means that energy providers can guarantee consumers a reliable source of energy when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not shining.  

Tony O’Reilly, Chief Executive Officer of dCarbonX, stated: 
“Safe subsurface energy storage is a key enabler for the balanced growth of intermittent renewable energy production from wind and solar.  Hydrogen is a clean fuel as well as being ideal for underground storage.  Drawing on our subsurface knowledge & strategic partnerships, dCarbonX has developed an innovative solution for the safe and secure underground storage of liquid hydrogen for Northern Ireland.”  

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