Bia Energy’s €90m renewable biomethane gas facility in Huntstown, Co. Dublin has become the first plant in Ireland to connect to the national gas network.
The plant, which is part of the Sretaw group founded by Irish businessman Eamon Waters, is using short-dated and surplus packaged food from the retail and hospitality sectors, as well materials from agriculture and food production and converting these organic items into renewable biomethane.
Once operating at full capacity, the Huntstown plant is expected to deliver up to 120 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of biomethane annually into the gas network.
Bia Energy will also shortly expand its biomethane production portfolio to include a facility in Kildare.
Gas Networks Ireland has connection agreements with six other biomethane producers which collectively will play a significant role in supporting the state’s targets for renewable gas generation.
Renewable biomethane gas is fully compatible with the existing national gas network and all existing appliances, technologies and vehicles that currently use gas. Biomethane seamlessly replaces natural gas to reduce emissions in heating, industry, transport, and power generation.
Bia Energy is one of seven biomethane companies allocated funding under the government’s national biomethane strategy capital grant scheme, receiving almost €3.9m to assist with its capital costs.
Martin Heydon T.D., Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland said the connection of Bia Energy’s anaerobic digestion facility at Huntstown represents a significant step forward in the development of Ireland’s renewable gas sector.
“It demonstrates how agricultural and organic waste can be converted into a valuable renewable energy source, reducing emissions and enhancing energy security,” he said.
“The project also delivers benefits for agriculture through the production of digestate, which can be used as an alternative to chemical fertilisers, supporting more sustainable farming practices and a circular economy.”
Last month, the government started issuing €19m in funding to projects such as Bia Energy’s Huntstown facility that were successful under the 2024 biomethane capital grant scheme.
To facilitate Bia Energy’s direct connection, Gas Networks Ireland built an extension to the existing gas network and a new biomethane network entry facility.
Karen Doyle, Gas Networks Ireland’s Head of Business Development, said the delivery and commissioning of biomethane facilities will play an important role in helping to secure Ireland’s indigenous energy supply and progress towards achieving its target of 5.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of biomethane production by 2030, equivalent to about 10% of the country’s current gas demand.
“Clean renewable biomethane gas can provide an immediate and practical decarbonisation solution for energy users, enabling businesses to reduce their emissions while continuing to utilise their existing gas infrastructure and equipment,” she said.
Brendan Traynor, Bia Energy’s CEO, said, “Through anaerobic digestion we are turning organic waste into a valuable energy resource. Biomethane will play an important role in Ireland’s energy future as it will enhance energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and have a positive impact on farming by reducing chemical fertilisers and replacing them with a higher quality organic biofertiliser. Our Dublin facility alone will help replace about 3,000 tonnes of chemical fertiliser every year.”
The Ireland government recently issued to seven projects under the biomethane capital grant scheme – and confirmed €200m will support a second round of capital grants for anaerobic digestion plants through to 2030.
