EM 04/23 - Owners Engineer Services Mountlucas Hydrogen

Descriptions

Mountlucas Wind Farm was granted permission from An Bord Pleanála in 2011 and comprises of 28 no. wind turbines with an overall blade tip height of up to 156 metres, internal road network, drainage, 110 kV substation, construction compounds, underground electrical and communications cabling and all other associated site development works and services. Mountlucas Wind Farm’s consented eastern entrance (via the R400) and internal site road network will be used to facilitate construction and delivery of the Hydrogen Plant equipment. A separate planning application for the Mountlucas Hydrogen Production Facility was lodged with Offaly County Council on 15th July 2022 and is due for decision in February 2023. The hydrogen production facility is to be located on an old construction compound (c.90m x 40m) which was previously used during the construction of the Mountlucas Wind Farm. The proposed development includes the provision of a 2MW pilot scale hydrogen electrolysis plant, storage vessels and associated infrastructure within a palisade fenced enclosure with vehicle and pedestrian access provided from the existing internal road network. It is proposed to provide an underground cable connection to the nearest wind turbine, which is approximately 600m to the west and this will provide power to the proposed facility. It is also proposed to provide a replacement footpath between the site entrance and the main entrance to the wind farm. The purpose of the footpath is to provide separation between pedestrians and traffic associated with the proposed development. The proposed layout consists of 1 no. Hydrogen PEM (Polymer Electrolyte Membrane) Electrolysis Plant contained within a 40ft ISO container capable of producing c.36kg of hydrogen per hour. Power is delivered to the plant via a 20kV supply from the existing wind farm. Please see full specification in Appendix 1.