The Biomethane for Carbon and Community is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027.
Project Description
The Biomethane for Carbon and Community (BCC) project is funded under the Just Transition Fund.
Biomethane is identified in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) as a significant contributor to the decarbonisation of energy supply by replacing fossil fuels with renewable locally sourced energy, while also presenting opportunities for enterprise, employment and economic benefits in rural and agricultural communities. A target of 5.7TWh biomethane production by 2030 has been set within the CAP and a National Biomethane Strategy (DFAM) was launched in May 2024.
To date there has been limited or no biomethane development in Ireland as a National Strategy and support system is not yet in place. The ‘Biomethane for Carbon and Community’ (BCC) project has set the following key objectives:
- Establish a Biomethane Development Office (BDO) located in the National Bioeconomy Campus site in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary. This BDO, as identified in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report, would act as an independent resource to support and enable communities, enterprises and the agriculture sector to develop an economically feasible biomethane concept, with decarbonising at its core.
- Conduct a feasibility study/business case of the potential for the development of biomethane within the Tipperary DZ and the wider JTF area. This would include assessment of available biomethane resources (agricultural slurry, organic wastes etc) as well as potential end use (gas injection, direct supply etc).
- Develop and deliver a biomethane communication campaign and capacity building activities (in line with DZ collaborative principles) to communities, the agricultural sector, elected members, local authority staff and others within the JTF and wider region. This will include direct capacity building for farmers, local authority staff and elected members.
- Liaise with stakeholders including DFAM/Teagasc to consider how the biomethane and biodiversity concept can be incorporated into existing schemes and practices to encourage, communicate and enable sustainable farming and cropping practices that are compatible with climate action, biodiversity and energy production.
- Explore community and cooperative models for the development of biomethane capacity within the JTF region and beyond.
- Develop a sustainability plan for the BDO to become a regional/national centre of excellence on biomethane, that would act as an example for the development of similar cooperative concepts in Tipperary, the JTF area and the wider region.
- Identify how the BCC proposal can support the collaborative DZ concept as outlined in the National Guidance for Local Authority Climate Action Plans (DECC, 2023) gov.ie – Guidelines for Local Authority Climate Action Plans (www.gov.ie), thereby reducing GHG emissions in the area and supporting land use diversification and biodiversity.
- Identify a suitable site in the Bioeconomy Campus at Lisheen for a biomethane facility with a view to supporting investment in such a facility (including options for community/cooperative ownership model).
- Set out a specification and timeline for Stage 2 of the development – Planning, Construction and Delivery of a Biomethane Facility with private sector investment and support.
- Consider the synergies between the emerging and developing bioeconomy sector and biomethane sector with a view to positioning the National Bioeconomy Campus as centre of excellence in this regard. By placing the BDO at the IBF National Bioeconomy Campus, synergies across the bioeconomy sector can be exploited.
The key impact of the BCC would be to enable the Tipperary DZ, the JTF areas and wider region to be first movers in responding to emerging National policy and supports for biomethane development. It will ensure that local communities are at the forefront of biomethane development (with associated reduced reliance on fossil fuels, a focus on biodiversity and economic benefits in the form of local jobs) and to prepare the conditions for future investment and development.
The BCC will in the short term create 6 jobs with the future potential, from further phases, to mobilise investment of €10 – €15m in new biomethane infrastructure and create 16 indirect jobs as a result of direct investment in a Biomethane plant (40GWh) to be located at Lisheen and supply/demand network in the JTF and wider area. It is envisaged that a pool of suppliers will emerge from the 250 – 300 farmers/biomass suppliers in the JTF area (and surrounding region) which could potentially benefit from a new biomethane plant (with further plants to be supported in the region in due course).
Contact Information
Seamus Hoyne
Dean Flexible & Work Based Learning,
Acting Head of Sustainable Development Research Institute
