More than a quarter of natural gas used in Ireland could be replaced by biomethane, a new study has found.
The energy source would also create new streams of income for agriculture, the report which is to be launched today by Gas Networks Ireland has claimed.
Biomethane, which is carbon neutral and renewable, could also reduce Ireland's total emissions by almost 4 million tonnes a year, representing 6.5% of Ireland’s total emissions.
Currently there are 176 projects throughout Ireland which if delivered could produce 14.8 terawatt hours of biomethane a year.
"The findings published in our report send out a strong signal that there is both interest in and demand for, biomethane production in Ireland," said Cathal Marley, Chief Executive Officer of Gas Networks Ireland.
"The appetite is there to produce enough biomethane to replace 26% of the natural gas currently consumed in Ireland."
"This is more than two and a half times greater than the State’s current biomethane 2030 CAP Target (5.7 TWh), and it is also more energy than will be procured from Ireland’s first offshore wind auction, ORESS-1, which took place earlier this year."
Biomethane is made from organic sources including food and agricultural waste and landfill.
According to Gas Network Ireland, it can be used in the current national gas network and burned in existing technologies, vehicles and appliances.
But getting to that point will require challenges to be overcome, the organisation has claimed.
"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," Mr Marley said.
Gas Networks Ireland now plans to develop a contract and tender process to buy biomethane for its own use.
Three years ago it first introduced biomethane produced here in Ireland to the network and last year 41GWh of it was used.
However, Friends of the Earth Ireland said it is skeptical about the Gas Networks Ireland predictions and and pointed out that while the Government is currently looking to increase biomethane in Ireland, this cannot come at the expense of sustainability or Ireland's climate commitments to rapidly reduce fossil fuels.
"GNI need to be more focused on meeting the state's climate objectives than its own limited commercial objectives," said Friends of the Earth's Head of Policy, Jerry Mac Evilly.
"The absence of any sustainability or climate assessment in their analysis beggars belief."
"The report seems to have ignored the state’s carbon budget obligations, as well as SEAI research which shows only that only fraction of such biomethane production is possible."
