A report carried out on behalf of Bord Gáis has found that at least 7.5% of Ireland's natural gas demand could be met using grass and waste.
The study, by UCC and Ernst & Young, finds the biomethane industry could make a significant contribution to the 'green tech' sector here.
Today's report outlines how grass, municipal waste and agricultural slurry can be converted into gas using technology, already in use elsewhere. It says the 'grass to gas' process could create enough gas to meet, at a conservative estimate, 7.5% of gas demand here. This is enough to heat the equivalent of 300,000 homes a year.
The technology is already in use in countries, like Denmark and Germany where farmers have formed co-operatives to finance, build and run such renewable gas facilities.
Bord Gáis says capturing this renewable gas would be a considerable step in addressing Ireland's renewable energy and waste management objectives. It also added that it would help reduce the country's dependence on energy imports and provide jobs and new business opportunities among the farming community.
The company says that while there are obstacles to making renewable gas a viable energy source here, it believes that they can be overcome in a relatively short timeframe.
