Farmers are set to host around 30 biogas plants under two new publicly funded projects to demonstrate the feasibility of agricultural ADs over the next four years. There are currently under 15 such plants in the Republic of Ireland.Noel Gavigan, of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), said that it had recently started a €1m EU-funded project aiming to build up to four farm-scale plants with farmers.
Farmers are set to host around 30 biogas plants under two new publicly funded projects to demonstrate the feasibility of agricultural ADs over the next four years. There are currently under 15 such plants in the Republic of Ireland.
Noel Gavigan, of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), said that it had recently started a €1m EU-funded project aiming to build up to four farm-scale plants with farmers.
The Hayes dairy farm near Thurles is first up and will use the gas to generate heat and power for its Tipperary Cheese production unit.
The IrBEA is looking for more sites with direct heating needs such as pig or poultry farms, or cattle farms with immediate neighbours.
“We’re looking at a design that could be rolled out to a number of farms and have an impact,” Gavigan said.
Meanwhile, Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) is starting its €29m Government-supported GRAZE project to collect biomethane by road from up to 30 farm-based AD plants around Mitchelstown, Co Cork.
Part of the funding will support the development of the plants, with “tendering in the coming months”, said GNI’s Ian Kilgallon.
Last week, the energy regulator approved the paperwork for biomethane injection points and licensed GNI’s first test site in Cush, Co Kildare.
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