The last few weeks have marked a significant acceleration in the Republic of Ireland’s ambitions to become a key user of anaerobic digestion and producer of biomethane and other bioproducts
The country’s first two major biomethane plants were connected to Gas Networks Ireland’s gas grid in August. On 12 August, Bia Energy’s €90 million, 120 GWh renewable biomethane gas facility in Huntstown, Co. Dublin, was connected, followed just a few weeks later by College Group’s €30 million biomethane facility in Nobber, Co. Meath.
Commenting at the opening of the Nobber plant on 31 August, Gas Networks Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer, David Kelly said: “This is the second biomethane facility to connect directly to the national gas network this month and is a powerful signal of the momentum now building behind Ireland’s biomethane industry.
“The connection of another producer demonstrates that Ireland has the capability to develop, connect and utilise indigenous renewable gas at scale. It sends a strong signal to potential producers and investors that biomethane has a significant place in Ireland’s future energy system.
“Biomethane will help strengthen Ireland’s energy security by providing an indigenous source of renewable gas, while also supporting the decarbonisation of sectors where gas continues to play an important role. Gas Networks Ireland is committed to facilitating the development of the infrastructure needed to enable Ireland’s biomethane sector to grow.”
Third plant opened in a month
On Tuesday 1 September, Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon officially opened the country’s first on-farm integrated grass biorefinery and anaerobic digestion (AD) demonstration plant.
The €3 million facility, which will process fresh grass to produce high-protein animal feed, a grass fibre fraction that can be used for applications in packaging and livestock feed, bioenergy, and biofertiliser, is part of the Farm Zero C project at Shinagh Estate’s demonstration farm in Co. Cork.
Minister Heydon emphasised that the plant forms part of Ireland’s wider biogas ambitions, saying: “Today is another significant milestone for the Irish bioeconomy with the opening of [this] €3 million integrated grass biorefining and anaerobic digestion demonstration plant.”
Supporting Ireland’s biomethane ambitions
The Irish Government’s latest Climate Action Plan sets out a target of reaching 5.7 TWh of biomethane by 2030 – 10% of the country’s total gas demand, and these plants are the first of many currently in development.
Matt Hale, Global Business Development Director at HRS Heat Exchangers, commented: “We are seeing more and more enquiries from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as both countries ramp up their anaerobic digestion capacity.
“Ireland’s biomethane strategy details several actions designed to incentivise more investment in the biomethane industry, which the government acknowledges is still in its early stages compared to several other EU countries. Having a clear roadmap is giving investors confidence, and as a result developers are looking to maximise the efficiency of their plants – and therefore maximise energy production, greenhouse gas savings, and the use of biofertiliser from digestate.”
The Irish Government has said that in order to meet its ambition of 5.7 TWh of biogas energy per year by 2030, the country needs between 150 and 200 AD plants over the next four years. It has received 176 expressions of interest following the publication of its Biomethane Energy Report. HRS Heat Exchangers is actively working with some of those respondents to integrate our equipment for anaerobic digestion and biogas into some of these projects.
These include the HRS DTI Series of Heat Exchangers for Digester Heating, the G Series for Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery, our BDS (Biogas Dehumidification System), the DPS (Digestate Pasteurisation System), and the DCS (Digestate Concentration System).
For more information, visit HRS Heat Exchangers
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