€30m Investment into “Important” Cork Renewable Gas Facility

Gas Networks Ireland has announced the construction of Ireland’s first large-scale renewable gas injection facility, starting in summer 2023.

Gas Networks Ireland CEO Cathal Marley is due to outline the Green Renewable Agricultural Zero Emissions (GRAZE) renewable gas project, which involves the construction of a central grid injection (CGI) facility in Mitchelstown, county Cork.

The CGI facility will process biomethane, a renewable gas made of farm and food waste, from up to 20 local farm producers. Using a process called anaerobic digestion, the waste will be converted into a gas that is fully compatible with existing Irish gas networks, vehicles, and other technologies.

Mr Marley said: “Ireland’s national gas network must be repurposed to transport renewable biomethane and hydrogen at scale.

Gas Networks Ireland is uniquely placed to deliver the necessary change, and with projects such as GRAZE, we’re already working hard to help deliver Ireland’s sustainable energy future.”

This biomethane could be used in industry, transport, home heating, and power generation, with a plethora of other potential. As biomethane is carbon neutral, it can significantly reduce emissions when replacing other forms of natural gas.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, said: “This project shows how we can diversify our gas supplies, by speeding up the roll-out of renewable gases like biomethane. Projects such as this will reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels, which is especially important now in the context of the war in Ukraine.

“The Government’s National Energy Security Framework, which sets out how Ireland is prepared to deal with potential shocks to our energy system, has highlighted the need for alternatives to natural gas, such as biomethane and hydrogen, to be developed to enhance Ireland’s security of supply and provide additional diversification for Ireland’s energy mix”, he added.

This process can also help support net-zero goals in the Irish agri-food sector. The agriculture-heavy Golden Vale area surrounding Mitchelstown is an ideal place to begin this project.

Mr Ryan said: “A domestic biomethane industry would not only support the decarbonisation of the agricultural sector, but it would also provide significant opportunities for rural communities and facilitate sustainable circular economies, with businesses powering their operations via renewable gas made from their own waste.”

“It will contribute to our broader climate goals – of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050”, added Mr Ryan.

At a maximum capacity, the facility will be able to meet the energy requirements of up to 64,000 homes. Mr Marley said that the rollout of biomethane energy would lead to “up to 6,500 jobs” being created, primarily in rural parts of Ireland.

GNI is also currently in the process of advancing plans to add hydrogen to its network in the future. While the Irish gas network currently has no hydrogen, it is believed blends of up to 20% hydrogen could be transported along existing gas lines.

It is hoped that by 2040 Ireland could be connected to the new European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) network.

If successful, the GRAZE project could be replicated in other locations around Ireland. The project is supported by the Climate Action Fund, which has given it more than €8.4 million in funding as part of the Government’s National Energy Security Framework.

The Climate Action Plan has set a target of around 3% of Ireland’s gas usage to be replaced by biomethane before 2030. The EU Green Deal has pointed out biomethane as a valuable tool in decarbonising European agriculture and energy, with Ireland highlighted as having the highest biomethane production potential per capita in Europe due to its large agricultural sector.