RHI Phase 2- An Opportunity to Reduce Greenhouse Gases in Agri Sector

In welcoming the Minister Naughten’s announcement on the Renewable Heat Incentive for the use of heat from biogas, Percy Foster CEO of Cré said “We are concerned that phase 1 of the RHI does not include any support for biomethane injection into the gas grid. However, we look forward to the opportunity to engage with the Minister and his Department in January on Phase 2 of the RHI on developing supports for biomethane to grid in meeting our EU obligations for renewables, the bioeconomy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector”.

Last week, the ‘Climate Change Advisory Council’ called on urgent new measures to reduce carbon emissions in Ireland. The use of biogas to treat wastes, in particular agricultural organic waste can play a significant role in reducing emissions.  The German biogas industry alone prevented 20 million tonnes of CO₂ last year.

ENDS

Cré was recently awarded a research Grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to conduct a research project on ‘Guidelines for Anaerobic Digestion Plants’.

A key element to assist planners and thus the development of a vibrant sector is the need to research and develop guidelines on anaerobic digestion plants. The guide will assist planners and thus Government policy in the development of the sector to meet EU renewable energy targets. The guide will explain the anaerobic digestion process and the composition of a typical anaerobic digestion plant. Regulations on health and Safety, waste permit, waste licences and the Animal By Product and waste legislation have an impact on the design and layout of the anaerobic digestion. The project is being completed by a multidisciplinary team from Green Gas AD Plant, StreamBioenery, Enviroguide, OCAE Consultants and Foster Environmental.  The project report will be published in January 2018.

If there is any interest in attending in the Autumn – please let Percy know by 9th February.

Certificate in Compost Facility Operation

AD can Decarbonise the Agri and Waste Sectors

The trade bodies Cré and IrBEA representing the entire sector hired an international expert to conduct a number of reports which examined the potential of the anaerobic digestion sector to decarbonise the agri and waste sectors with multiple cross-sectoral benefits.

These reports assessed that potential in terms of available feedstocks and quantifies the benefits in terms of GHG emission reduction by 2030 to 32% of total national Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

In terms of absolute figures, all evaluated scenarios of power production and combined heat and power production exhibit cumulative annual offsets ranging from 1.1 billion to 1.5 billion Euro by 2030, depending on the corresponding CO₂eq price.

In addition to quantifiable benefits outlined in the reports, there are additional benefits which cannot be easily quantified, nor economically assessed. Among these benefits is flexible use of the natural gas grid for heating, cooling and transport, rural development and sustainable agriculture, improved air quality related to alternative waste treatment pathways.

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The EPA have published 2015 data  on composting and anaerobic digestion in Ireland in 2015. The report can be downloaded from this link:

http://www.epa.ie/pubs/reports/waste/stats/compost/

GORC was held in May 2016 and hosted by Cré. A book of abstracts has been published, which can be downloaded here

Lee-Jane Eastwood (Cré) and Padraic O’Neill (IrBEA) at the joint Biogas Manifesto launch on 12th November

Thousands of jobs, cheap heating/electricity, and achieving renewables targets – politicians hear how to create the conditions to achieve these goals at IrBEA-Cré ‘Biogas Manifesto’ launch

Politicians from across the political landscape last Thursday November 12th heard how a simple technology can deliver thousands of jobs and significant other social, economic and environmental benefits – through the use of anaerobic Digestion (AD). Details were outlined in Dublin at the joint launch of the ‘Biogas Manifesto’ by the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) and Cré, the Composting and Anaerobic Digestions Association. click here to download manifesto. 

Analysis by the two associations indicates AD – which is a simple, proven, practical biological recycling technology – has the potential to create 2,250 direct permanent jobs, with many more in the construction phase, spread across all counties in Ireland. This would be especially welcome in rural Ireland, as many rural areas struggle to emerge from the financial crisis.

AD has the capability to supply enough electricity to power 20% of Irish homes, or to replace 7.5% of the fossil-based natural gas with renewable “green” gas, via the national gas grid. Renewable energy from AD could be a significant incentive to attract new foreign investment into Ireland, enabling major companies such as Apple to gain marketing traction by meeting their sustainability goals.

Cré CEO Percy Foster said: “The technology for biogas in proven and readily available. The current review of the bioenergy strategy needs to recognise the great opportunities that biogas provides.”

Director of IrBEA Padraic O’Neill said: “Biogas represents a huge opportunity for locally produced renewable energy, job creation, rural development and sustainable agriculture. This needs to be higher on the political agenda.”

John  O’Mahony, T.D, Chair of the Oireathtas Committee on Energy, extended an invitation to the industries bodies to present to the Committee in the near future.