Policymakers, developers and industry experts will gather later this month for a one-day conference focused on Ireland's biomethane sector.

The second edition of Biomethane Day Ireland will take place on Wednesday, June 24 at the Radisson Blue Royal Hotel in Dublin.

The event is being organised by the Biomethane RNG Channel, a media platform fully dedicated to biomethane.

Nephin Renewable Gas with AB Energy have returned as the main sponsors of the conference.

Biomethane

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien will open the day as keynote speaker.

It is now two years since the launch of Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy.

Ireland is targeting the production of up to 5.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of biomethane annually by 2030, which is roughly enough to meet 10% of the nation’s gas demand.

The government's Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) legislation is scheduled to be published in the coming weeks.

The RHO proposed to provide a 'multiplier' for indigenously produced biomethane.

Multipliers are mechanisms for increasing the credit earned for certain types of fuels within an obligation scheme.

However, the European Commission has now deemed the proposed multiplier for indigenous biomethane as incompatible with EU internal market rules.

Conference

The conference will explore the latest developments in Ireland’s biomethane rollout, how the RHO and national incentive schemes are shaping investment decisions, and comparing progress here with other European markets.

The event will also showcase real project case studies and innovative technology solutions, while creating a networking opportunity for developers, farmers, utilities, policymakers, and investors.

As Irish biomethane projects are progressing into delivery, the conference will include several panel discussions, some of which will be moderated by Agriland editor, Stella Meehan.

Among the topics to be covered will be regulation, health and safety standards, feedstocks, technologies driving biomethane production and construction and development of projects.

"From strategy to steel-in-the-ground projects, from farm-based AD to grid injection, from decarbonisation targets to bankability - this second edition is about turning ambition into delivery.

"If the first year was about vision, this one is about execution," the conference organisers said.