Saturday, 13 September 2025
Construction is set to begin on Ireland’s largest agri-based biomethane facility, located near Ballinrobe in County Mayo. The facility, developed by Nephin Energy, is the first commercial-scale plant of its kind in the country and represents a significant milestone in Ireland’s renewable energy strategy. Project Overview The plant will process 90,000 tonnes of farm waste […]
Construction is set to begin on Ireland’s largest agri-based biomethane facility, located near Ballinrobe in County Mayo. The facility, developed by Nephin Energy, is the first commercial-scale plant of its kind in the country and represents a significant milestone in Ireland’s renewable energy strategy.
The plant will process 90,000 tonnes of farm waste annually, including manures and slurries, through anaerobic digestion (AD). Once operational, it will produce over 85 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of Irish-generated, sustainable biomethane each year.
The facility is one of three state-of-the-art biomethane plants being developed by Nephin Energy across Ireland. When all three are operational, they will collectively generate over 250 GWh of biomethane annually, which is enough to heat more than 38,000 homes.
According to Nephin Energy, the Ballinrobe plant will contribute to the local and national economy by:
Creating over 100 direct and indirect jobs throughout the project’s lifetime.
Offering long-term, reliable income streams to farmers by sourcing agricultural waste as feedstock.
Supporting economic activity and job creation in rural communities.
Agriculture accounts for approximately 37.5% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, with methane from livestock being a significant contributor. Projects like the Ballinrobe facility provide a pathway to decarbonise agriculture without reducing herd sizes, by using manure and slurries, waste that would otherwise emit methane, to produce renewable energy.
This supports climate-smart farming by:
Reducing uncontrolled methane emissions.
Offering nutrient-rich digestate as a by-product, which can replace chemical fertilisers and improve soil health.
Creating new income streams for farmers under pressure to meet climate compliance without sacrificing livelihoods.
A key agreement has been signed between Nephin Renewable Gas and Flogas, making Flogas the offtake partner for the renewable gas produced by all three planned biomethane facilities.
John Rooney, Managing Director of Flogas, described the deal as the largest domestic biomethane agreement of its kind in Ireland, stating it will be a “significant boost for our agricultural sector and national net-zero progress.”
Rooney also emphasized the importance of the Renewable Heating Obligation (RHO) in supporting such initiatives, calling for its swift enactment.
The project has been welcomed by government officials as a key component of Ireland’s green energy transition:
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien, highlighted the economic and environmental benefits for rural areas, calling the agreement a “cornerstone deal” that demonstrates the growth potential of Ireland’s green gas sector.
Minister of State for the Circular Economy, Alan Dillon, said the collaboration between Nephin Renewable Gas and Flogas marks a “pivotal moment for Ireland’s energy landscape”, supporting the government’s target of producing 5.7 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of biomethane by 2030.
While Ireland is in the early stages of scaling up biomethane production, it is part of a broader European shift toward renewable gas integration. Countries like Denmark, Germany, and France have already developed robust biomethane sectors, with established networks for grid injection and vehicle fuel usage. Ireland’s 5.7 TWh biomethane target by 2030, as outlined in national policy, aligns with EU climate objectives and positions the country to tap into emerging cross-border renewable gas markets.
Scaling biomethane can also help Ireland meet its obligations under the EU’s Effort Sharing Regulation, which mandates significant emissions reductions in non-ETS sectors like agriculture, transport, and heating, areas where biomethane can have immediate impact.
The Ballinrobe plant is expected to be operational in 2027. Details about the other two biomethane facilities under development by Nephin Energy will be announced later this year.
As Ireland works toward its climate goals and a more circular economy, the Mayo biomethane plant signals a major step in advancing renewable gas infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel dependence, and supporting rural development through sustainable innovation.
While the Renewable Heating Obligation (RHO) is welcomed by industry stakeholders, clearer long-term policy signals are still needed to fully unlock biomethane’s potential in Ireland.
Key policy gaps include:
A national biomethane support scheme, similar to feed-in tariffs or contracts-for-difference models in other EU states.
Streamlined planning and environmental permitting pathways.
Support for grid injection infrastructure and metering systems.
Incentives for fleet operators or hauliers to transition to biomethane-powered vehicles.
Without these enablers, projects may struggle to scale fast enough to meet the 2030 targets.
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