Gas Networks Ireland first introduced domestically produced biomethane in 2020, and last year transported 41 gigawatt hours of biomethane in the national network.
The report identified Cavan, Kildare, Limerick, Cork and Monaghan as the top five counties in terms of prospective biomethane production volumes. Gas Networks Ireland chief executive Cathal Marley said that “the appetite is there” to produce more biomethane and that Ireland had a “real opportunity to develop a biomethane industry at scale”.
“However, a new biomethane industry in Ireland, as with any emerging sector, will face challenges that must be overcome. While the first Irish policy support for biomethane is in development, it is essential that it provides a framework that delivers long-term price certainty for biomethane producers and ensures that the planning and permitting process is aligned to the specific needs of the sector,” he said.