Community-led review · Rathoe, Co. Carlow

No community should be the testing ground for a first-of-its-kind hydrogen plant near a school and crèche.

Net Zero Energy wants to build a €2 billion hydrogen storage facility within 865m of a primary school and crèche, and less than 483m of the local housing estate, in Rathoe, Co. Carlow — a scale never before attempted anywhere in the world. This is our record of the evidence and the questions that need answering before this goes ahead.

Read the evidence →
Case Summary
Project
Rathrush Green Energy Park
Developer
Net Zero Energy (NZE)
Site
~50 acres, Rathoe, Co. Carlow
Cost
≈ €2 billion
Nearest school/crèche
< 865m
Nearest housing estate
< 483m
Village population
376
Route
Strategic Infrastructure Development
Deciding body
An Coimisiún Pleanála
Never built at this scale
<865mDistance from the proposed site to a primary school and crèche
<483mDistance from the proposed site to the local housing estate
376Population of Rathoe village (2023 Census)
0Hydrogen storage facilities of this scale, this close to a community, operating anywhere in the world
5–7 yrsEstimated construction period, with a peak workforce of up to 1,500
What's being proposed

The project, in NZE's own terms

Before we get to our concerns, here's what's actually on the table — as described by the developer and reported publicly.

Rathrush Green Energy Park (RGEP) would use surplus wind and solar power — electricity that is currently curtailed for lack of grid capacity or demand — to produce green hydrogen through electrolysis. That hydrogen would be compressed and stored deep underground in lined rock caverns, then burned in gas turbines to generate electricity when the grid needs it.

NZE describes it as a Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) facility capable of supplying up to 10% of Ireland's peak electricity demand for up to 70 hours, and says it would prevent roughly 180,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. The company has said it intends to lodge a formal planning application through the Strategic Infrastructure Development process.

  • Storage methodUnderground rock caverns
  • Village population376
  • Distance to school/crèche< 865m
  • Distance to housing estate< 483m
  • Construction period (est.)5–7 years
  • Peak construction workforce (est.)Up to 1,500
The evidence file

Our key concerns, in our own words

This is the case Rathoe Community Group is making — sourced from official reports, government policy documents, and the developer's own published material. We are not opposed to renewable energy. Rathoe and the wider area are already home to several large-scale solar farms. This is about whether an unprecedented project of this scale should be located within 865m of a primary school and crèche, and less than 483m of the local housing estate, without the highest standard of independent scrutiny first.

Exhibit 01 — Public Safety

No guarantee of safety

Not independently demonstrated

A hydrogen storage facility of this scale is being proposed in a small rural village without any independent evidence, precedent, or sufficient guarantees of health and safety. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has recognised that while renewably produced hydrogen has a role to play, "its low density and explosive nature present challenges with respect to its storage."

  • Computer models predict what should happen. Real-world experience proves what actually does happen — and real-world examples at this scale simply don't exist yet.
  • The safety implications of locating a facility of this scale within 865m of a school and crèche, and less than 483m of a housing estate, have not been independently demonstrated anywhere else in the world.
Source: SEAI Hydrogen Research report
Exhibit 02 — Unprecedented

Unproven and untested — this is a test run

Yet to be demonstrated at scale

An unprecedented and unproven project demands unprecedented scrutiny and regulation. Government taskforces are currently examining hydrogen storage, but it remains unproven and untested at this scale. The Irish Government's own Electricity Storage Policy Framework 2024 states plainly that hydrogen storage "has yet to be demonstrated at scale."

  • The developer's own published material references a hydrogen storage facility in Sweden as its closest comparable example — while acknowledging that project operates at a smaller scale. There is no directly comparable operational example anywhere for what's proposed in Rathoe.
Sources: Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland (2024), pp.94–95; Rathrush Green Energy Park FAQ
Exhibit 03 — Scale

This village is not built for a project of this size

Under scrutiny

If approved, this project would bring an estimated 1,500 construction workers and heavy machinery into a village of around 376 people, over an estimated five to seven years. The local roads and bridges were simply not built to withstand that level of traffic and infrastructure.

  • The developer describes the project as being "well away from local residences." We think local people are entitled to ask what "well away" actually means — when the proposed development is within 865m of a primary school and crèche, and less than 483m of the local housing estate.
Source: Rathrush Green Energy Park FAQ; Rathoe Community Group estimates
Exhibit 04 — Environment & Community

Impact on our local environment and homes

Not yet independently assessed

While the developer is engaging with the Environmental Protection Agency, the impact of a project of this scale on groundwater, wildlife, agricultural land, housing and the wider environment is undeniable. Noise throughout the construction period would be a significant burden on the school and community for years.

  • Rathoe Community Group is exploring commissioning independent engineering and environmental tests to assess the potential structural impact on nearby housing from the proposed construction work.
Status: assessment in progress — Rathoe Community Group
In their own words
"No community should be asked to become the testing ground for an unprecedented hydrogen storage project beside a school, crèche and family homes."
"Computer models are important. Engineering reports are important. But they are not the same as years of proven, real-world operational experience. When communities are being asked to host projects of this scale beside homes and schools, that distinction matters."
— Dr David Allen, Chairperson, Rathoe Community Group
Take action

What you can do

  1. 1Read the full evidence file above so you know exactly what's being claimed and what's still unverified.
  2. 2Submit a written observation to An Coimisiún Pleanála during the public consultation window — this is the step that actually counts, and it preserves your right to challenge the decision later.
  3. 3Share this page with neighbours who haven't heard about the project yet. Most people in the area only found out through a leaflet.
Get in touch
info@rathoecommunity.com
Dr David Allen, Chairperson
Details to follow
Support the campaign

Help us fight this properly

Opposing a project of this scale takes real resources — printing, legal advice, and getting the word out to every household in the area. Here's how to help, and where to follow along.

Fundraiser

Rathoe Community against a Hydrogen power facility

We've launched a GoFundMe to cover posters, information brochures for local households, and legal advice as we prepare our case. Every donation helps a small volunteer group compete with a €2 billion developer.

Donate on GoFundMe →
Sources

References

  1. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Hydrogen Research — seai.ie
  2. Rathrush Green Energy Park — Frequently Asked Questions — rathrushgreenenergypark.ie/frequently-asked-questions
  3. Electricity Storage Policy Framework for Ireland (2024), pp.94–95

A note on this page: Rathoe Community Group is an independent, volunteer residents' group. We are not affiliated with Carlow County Council, An Coimisiún Pleanála, or Net Zero Energy. Every factual claim above is drawn from public reporting, published research, or planning documentation — sources are noted under each exhibit, and we're happy to share full references on request. This page does not constitute legal advice; anyone considering a planning objection or judicial review should seek independent legal guidance on their specific circumstances.