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Last week we saw the launch of the report into the business case for biomethane production in Ireland.
The KPMG-commissioned report found a viable case for the development of 227 agri-led anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in Ireland by 2030.
The plan sees a potential 5.8m tonnes of grass and 4.8m tonnes of slurry being used to produced biogas. The biogas would then be upgrade to biomethane before injection into the national gas grid.
Given the scale of farming in Ireland, the co-operative model is a very interesting model and possibly the most appropriate one
The Irish Farmers Journal recently spoke to Denis O'Sullivan, managing director of Gas Networks Ireland (GNI), on the report and the potential for co-operative-style models in this developing sector.
“Given the scale of farming in Ireland, the co-operative model is a very interesting model and possibly the most appropriate one,” Denis explains.
It is not envisaged that every farmer in Ireland will build an AD plant but there is significant potential for excess grass to be sold to AD plants. This is where a co-operative-style model would likely work, although existing co-operates have expressed interest in developing AD plants in the past.
Biogas support
Denis said the Government’s Climate Action Plan calls for a requirement for a support mechanism for the development of on-farm AD.
This support mechanism will be underpinned by the impending target for the amount of renewable gas which will be required to be injected on to the gas grid. An announcement on these measures is expected by the end of the year.
Listen to the full interview below:
Pushing for biogas
GNI has been extensively involved with developing the biogas industry in Ireland and recently saw the first molecules of biomethane produced from an AD plant injected into the grid. GNI also has planning permission lodged with Cork County Council for a large-scale gas injection facility which will support the development of a number of AD plants in the Cork area.
Denis said there is also extensive policy and regulation work under way and the organisation now has a clear connection policy, defined gas quality standards and a Green Gas Certification process is also in place.
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