Ireland unveils National Biomethane Strategy

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, on May 28 announced the publication of Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy.

Ireland aims to produce and deliver up to 5.7 TWh/year of biomethane by 2030.

The National Biomethane Strategy outlines policy and regulatory measures and provides a roadmap to develop a scalable biomethane industry in Ireland. The strategy focuses on a framework of five interlinking pillars critical for achieving the target: sustainability, demand for biomethane, bioeconomy and the circular economy, economics of biomethane, and enabling policy requirements.

"Implementing the strategy and achieving these goals will require coordinated action across key government departments and agencies to ensure the necessary supports and infrastructure are in place," the government said.

A newly formed Interdepartmental Biomethane Implementation Group will oversee the strategy's implementation, measure its impact, and monitor target delivery. This group will report directly to the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce. 

A significant aspect of the strategy is sustainable production. An early action item will be developing a Biomethane Sustainability Charter in consultation with policy, industry, and societal stakeholders. This charter will support an agri-led biomethane industry while considering established goals for protecting and restoring water, soil, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, and will protect against any unintended negative consequences.