Renewable gas (biomethane)
The key to a cleaner energy future
A carbon-neutral renewable gas made from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion, biomethane can seamlessly replace natural gas on the network today and is fully compatible with existing appliances, technologies and vehicles. It can reduce emissions across key sectors of the economy including heating, industry, transport and power generation, while also supporting the decarbonisation of the agri-food sector.
Why renewable gas (biomethane)
Benefits the agriculture industry
As well as reducing on-farm emissions and supporting more sustainable supply chains, an indigenous biomethane industry would also provide significant opportunities for local communities from the sale of biomethane, feedstock used to produce the renewable gas, and a bio-fertiliser that is a by-product of the process, and facilitate sustainable circular economies, with businesses powering their operations via renewable gas made from their own waste.
Ireland's energy needs are changing
Climate change is one of our most urgent global challenges. Our vision is for Ireland’s €2.7bn, 14,617km national gas network to evolve to become net-zero carbon by 2050 and support emissions reductions across every sector of the Irish economy in the least cost, least disruptive, safe and secure manner.
Renewable gases, such as biomethane, will play a key part in helping decarbonise Ireland’s economy and we are working to make this possible.
We opened Ireland’s first renewable gas injection facility in Cush, Co. Kildare in 2019 and have planning permission for a second facility in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. Together they have the capacity to heat 75,000 homes, while also supporting the decarbonisation of local agriculture.
We have also developed a Green Gas Certification (GGC) scheme for Ireland in partnership with other Irish and European agencies to provide a reliable method of tracing and verifying renewable gas origin and support the growth of a biomethane market in Ireland.
We are committed to playing a leading role in decarbonising the energy system and with the introduction of biomethane into the network, we are offering energy customers a sustainable, carbon-neutral alternative and contributing to a cleaner energy future for Ireland.