The country's largest food and garden waste biomethane plant is being officially launched in Co. Cork today (Friday, April 24).

Stream BioEnergy, which develops and operates renewable biogas facilities in Ireland and the UK, is constructing the €80 million biomethane plant in Little Island.

When the facility is operational next year, it will process 90,000t of domestic and commercial food and garden waste annually.

According to Stream, the facility will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40,000t carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) per year.

The Little Island plant is expected to deliver more than 80GWh of renewable biomethane annually to the national grid.

The facility will also produce sustainable biofertilisers by recycling nutrients from food waste, which Stream said will support more sustainable farming and food production.

Biomethane

The project will create over 100 construction jobs, along with more than 20 permanent operational roles at the facility.

Kanadevia Inova AG and Coffey Group, one of Ireland’s largest construction companies, are building the plant.

Once operational, Stream said the facility is expected to generate around €4 million in annual local expenditure.

Some of the largest national and regional waste collection companies will supply waste to the facility.

Kevin Fitzduff, co-founder of Stream BioEnergy, said the project is well positioned to supply renewable biomethane into Ireland’s forthcoming Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) scheme.

However, concerns have been raised that a recent European Commission opinion on the RHO could impact Ireland's biomethane and anaerobic digestion sector.

"This project will significantly contribute to Ireland’s decarbonisation efforts and make the country a more energy secure environment in which to live and conduct business.

"We are calling for a practical solution that would ensure onlytruly unsubsidised biomethane is eligible for import into Ireland under the RHO, preventing historically subsidised European supply from undermining Irish produced biomethane and giving the domestic sector the support it needs to scale," Fitzduff said.

Renewable energy

Centrica Energy, in collaboration with Bord Gáis Energy, has signed an agreement with Stream BioEnergy to provide long term offtake and route-to-market services for the plant.

Cassim Mangerah, managing director of Centrica Energy said they are proud to partner with Stream BioEnergy on "a project that turns waste into clean, renewable energy".

"Centrica Energy’s role in managing the full offtake and certificates ensures that biomethane can be brought to market efficiently, delivering real value to Irish consumers and contributing to a lower-carbon future," he said.

Gas Networks Ireland, which operates and maintains the country's gas network, has welcomed the progression of the new biomethane plant in Little Island.

"This represents another significant step forward for Ireland’s renewable gas sector and demonstrates the growing momentum behind biomethane as a clean, indigenous energy source," Nicola McSweeney, director of people and interim director of customer and business development, Gas Networks Ireland, said.

"Projects like this one in Cork highlight the strong potential of renewable gas to support both climate action and regional economic development.

"We look forward to working closely with Stream BioEnergy to progress the connection of this new facility to Ireland’s gas network, ensuring that the renewable gas produced here can be delivered to customers nationwide," she added.