Republic of Ireland’s Greengate Biogas will hold a community consultation event for its first biomethane plant in Powerstown, County Carlow on 10 April – ahead of an anticipated planning application submission in Q3.
The firm has attracted investors such as Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I, Atlas Renewables and Energex Partners.
Greengate Biogas aims to take a leading role in Ireland’s transition to renewable energy by focusing on biomethane production through the development, construction, and operation of large-scale centralised anaerobic digestion plants.
The Powerstown plant is slated to process up to 700,000 tonnes of agricultural residues (cattle and pig slurry, farmyard straw manure and poultry manure) to produce approximately 250 GWh of biomethane and capture 30,000 tonnes of biogenic CO2 annually as well as fertiliser.
It will support local farmers to improve their manure management and create a circular economy by returning the degassed agricultural residues to farmland.
The biomethane produced will be injected into the local gas network, providing energy equivalent to the heat demand of approximately 22,700 households. Options are being explored for storing the captured biogenic CO2 or using it for industrial purposes.
Andrew Bernard, CEO, Greengate Biogas, said the plant would create a circular economy, helping farmers to better manage their manure and contribute to Ireland’s energy security by reducing reliance on imported natural gas.
The day-long consultation will be held at The Woodford Dolmen Hotel on 10 April.
