Ireland is at a critical stage in its response to combatting climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. While some effort has been made to lower emissions in the electricity and heat sectors, the transport sector is arguably proving one of the most challenging to decarbonise.
Between 1990 and 2017, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the transport sector in Ireland increased by 133.2%, more than any other sector.
In terms of the distribution of emissions, road transport accounts for most CO2 emissions from the transport sector (DTTAS, 2018). Within this, private car use accounted for 52% in 2015, while goods vehicles accounted for 24%. The graph shows Ireland’s 2015 transport figures versus average EU figures.
In order to reduce emissions, Ireland set ambitious targets of 10% of final energy use within the transport sector to come from renewable sources by 2020.
It was envisaged to be achieved through the further development of our public transport system and uptake of electric vehicles (EV) and eventually hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. As of the end of 2018, however, the actual figure was 7.2% (Teagasc), meaning we are on track to significantly miss this target.
In fact, at current trajectory, radical action will be required to meet Ireland’s targets of achieving “net-zero” emissions by 2050 across the board.
However, a transport fuel source that is sometimes overlooked and in which farmers could form a pivotal role in producing is upgraded farm-produced biogas.
Biomethane
Biogas is produced through the natural anaerobic digestion (AD) process of the decomposition of organic matter in the complete absence of oxygen. The AD process begins when organic feedstock such as grass, crops, slurries, food, etc are put inside a sealed tank (anaerobic digester) and heated.
Anaerobic microorganisms break this feedstock down into simpler organic matter and, in the process, release biogas.
Renewable biomethane is produced by upgrading this biogas (removing CO2 and other gases) to a purity of 99% methane content.
Once compressed, biomethane may be used as a direct substitute for natural gas for both heat and transport. Biomethane is growing in popularity across Europe as a vehicle fuel but remains very much in its infancy in Ireland.
Sustainability
Farm-produced Biomethane as a transport fuel offers similar rewards to EVs, namely decarbonised transport and clean air, as well as energy security, indigenous job creation and an additional income stream for agriculture.
It is particularly well suited for use in commercial vehicles, and can reduce carbon emissions by over a fifth compared to traditional fuels, while also reducing other emissions significantly.
By 2021, farm-produced biomethane must adhere to the strict renewable criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive, RED II. This means that biomethane must reduce GHG emissions by 70% compared to natural gas before it can receive certification as renewable gas. The use of grass and slurry will be pivotal in achieving this.
When produced sustainably, biomethane as a transport fuel could form a key part in achieving Ireland’s renewable energy targets for the transport sector.
Gas-powerd lorries are now on Irish roads.
Causeway project
NUI Galway and Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) have been leading the charge in the promotion of compressed natural gas (CNG) and biomethane for trucks, vans and buses. Heavy goods vehicles and buses are a key target for biomethane. While only accounting for 4% of vehicles on Irish roads, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector.
Biomethane as a transport fuel requires a significant change in infrastructure, including the provision of compressed natural gas service stations and natural gas vehicles.
The Causeway project will mark a major stepping stone in the development of a renewable gas-powered transport sector.
Causeway will see the development of a natural gas transport re-fuelling network in Ireland.
The project will support an overall nationwide roll-out of 70 compressed natural gas filling stations. The project received approval for €6.5m co-funding from the European Commission.
As well as an operational gas filling station in Dublin port, there a number of filling stations due to be constructed in 2020.
The project also made up to €20,000 available to businesses to contribute towards the purchase of a new gas-powered vehicle.
Renewable biomethane will be injected into the national gas grid in increasingly high volumes from 2020 on. A significant proportion of this is expected to come from farm-produced biomethane. This biomethane will be available to all gas-powered vehicles via the national gas grid.
Causeway is one of two major projects by GNI involving renewable gas. The planning application for the country’s second gas injection facility, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, has been submitted to Cork County Council.
This large-scale central grid injection facility is part the GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural & Zero Emissions) gas project and received grant funding support from the Government’s Climate Action Fund.
The Mitchelstown facility will support up to 20 farm-based agri-AD plants which will inject biomethane directly into the national gas grid. As previously reported, GNI believes it will need up to 250 localised on-farm anaerobic digesters by 2030 to reach its 2030 decarbonisation targets.
New Holland
biomethane tractor
New Holland's biomethane powered T6.180 tractor.
While there have been a number of concept machines over the years, New Holland has been a leader in developing biomethane-powered machinery. The latest incarnation of its fully biomethane-powered tractor is the T6.180. In 2019, the company scooped the 2020 sustainable tractor of the year award for this tractor at Agritechnica.
The tractor is fully powered by upgraded biogas (biomethane) produced on farms. According to New Holland, the biomethane-powered T6 has up to 30% lower running costs when compared to diesel. In the field the T6.180 tractor produces 99% less particulate matter in comparison to the equivalent diesel tractor, while CO2 emissions are reduced by a minimum of 10% and overall emissions by 80%. The units are expected to be commercially available in 2021.
Read more
Teagasc to carry out study on sustainable feedstocks for anaerobic digestors
Ireland can save 2.6m tonnes of CO2 through using biomethane - RGFI
Replacing natural gas with biomethane would save on CO2
Realising Ireland’s biogas potential
Digestate upgrading – getting more from less
How to upgrade biogas to biomethane
Nitrogen-rich feedstocks – feed heaven or feed hell?
A new dawn for Ireland’s biogas industry
Ireland is at a critical stage in its response to combatting climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. While some effort has been made to lower emissions in the electricity and heat sectors, the transport sector is arguably proving one of the most challenging to decarbonise.
Between 1990 and 2017, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from the transport sector in Ireland increased by 133.2%, more than any other sector.
In terms of the distribution of emissions, road transport accounts for most CO2 emissions from the transport sector (DTTAS, 2018). Within this, private car use accounted for 52% in 2015, while goods vehicles accounted for 24%. The graph shows Ireland’s 2015 transport figures versus average EU figures.
In order to reduce emissions, Ireland set ambitious targets of 10% of final energy use within the transport sector to come from renewable sources by 2020.
It was envisaged to be achieved through the further development of our public transport system and uptake of electric vehicles (EV) and eventually hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. As of the end of 2018, however, the actual figure was 7.2% (Teagasc), meaning we are on track to significantly miss this target.
In fact, at current trajectory, radical action will be required to meet Ireland’s targets of achieving “net-zero” emissions by 2050 across the board.
However, a transport fuel source that is sometimes overlooked and in which farmers could form a pivotal role in producing is upgraded farm-produced biogas.
Biomethane
Biogas is produced through the natural anaerobic digestion (AD) process of the decomposition of organic matter in the complete absence of oxygen. The AD process begins when organic feedstock such as grass, crops, slurries, food, etc are put inside a sealed tank (anaerobic digester) and heated.
Anaerobic microorganisms break this feedstock down into simpler organic matter and, in the process, release biogas.
Renewable biomethane is produced by upgrading this biogas (removing CO2 and other gases) to a purity of 99% methane content.
Once compressed, biomethane may be used as a direct substitute for natural gas for both heat and transport. Biomethane is growing in popularity across Europe as a vehicle fuel but remains very much in its infancy in Ireland.
Sustainability
Farm-produced Biomethane as a transport fuel offers similar rewards to EVs, namely decarbonised transport and clean air, as well as energy security, indigenous job creation and an additional income stream for agriculture.
It is particularly well suited for use in commercial vehicles, and can reduce carbon emissions by over a fifth compared to traditional fuels, while also reducing other emissions significantly.
By 2021, farm-produced biomethane must adhere to the strict renewable criteria under the Renewable Energy Directive, RED II. This means that biomethane must reduce GHG emissions by 70% compared to natural gas before it can receive certification as renewable gas. The use of grass and slurry will be pivotal in achieving this.
When produced sustainably, biomethane as a transport fuel could form a key part in achieving Ireland’s renewable energy targets for the transport sector.
Gas-powerd lorries are now on Irish roads.
Causeway project
NUI Galway and Gas Networks Ireland (GNI) have been leading the charge in the promotion of compressed natural gas (CNG) and biomethane for trucks, vans and buses. Heavy goods vehicles and buses are a key target for biomethane. While only accounting for 4% of vehicles on Irish roads, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector.
Biomethane as a transport fuel requires a significant change in infrastructure, including the provision of compressed natural gas service stations and natural gas vehicles.
The Causeway project will mark a major stepping stone in the development of a renewable gas-powered transport sector.
Causeway will see the development of a natural gas transport re-fuelling network in Ireland.
The project will support an overall nationwide roll-out of 70 compressed natural gas filling stations. The project received approval for €6.5m co-funding from the European Commission.
As well as an operational gas filling station in Dublin port, there a number of filling stations due to be constructed in 2020.
The project also made up to €20,000 available to businesses to contribute towards the purchase of a new gas-powered vehicle.
Renewable biomethane will be injected into the national gas grid in increasingly high volumes from 2020 on. A significant proportion of this is expected to come from farm-produced biomethane. This biomethane will be available to all gas-powered vehicles via the national gas grid.
Causeway is one of two major projects by GNI involving renewable gas. The planning application for the country’s second gas injection facility, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, has been submitted to Cork County Council.
This large-scale central grid injection facility is part the GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural & Zero Emissions) gas project and received grant funding support from the Government’s Climate Action Fund.
The Mitchelstown facility will support up to 20 farm-based agri-AD plants which will inject biomethane directly into the national gas grid. As previously reported, GNI believes it will need up to 250 localised on-farm anaerobic digesters by 2030 to reach its 2030 decarbonisation targets.
New Holland
biomethane tractor
New Holland's biomethane powered T6.180 tractor.
While there have been a number of concept machines over the years, New Holland has been a leader in developing biomethane-powered machinery. The latest incarnation of its fully biomethane-powered tractor is the T6.180. In 2019, the company scooped the 2020 sustainable tractor of the year award for this tractor at Agritechnica.
The tractor is fully powered by upgraded biogas (biomethane) produced on farms. According to New Holland, the biomethane-powered T6 has up to 30% lower running costs when compared to diesel. In the field the T6.180 tractor produces 99% less particulate matter in comparison to the equivalent diesel tractor, while CO2 emissions are reduced by a minimum of 10% and overall emissions by 80%. The units are expected to be commercially available in 2021.
Read more
Teagasc to carry out study on sustainable feedstocks for anaerobic digestors
Ireland can save 2.6m tonnes of CO2 through using biomethane - RGFI
Replacing natural gas with biomethane would save on CO2
Realising Ireland’s biogas potential
Digestate upgrading – getting more from less
How to upgrade biogas to biomethane
Nitrogen-rich feedstocks – feed heaven or feed hell?
A new dawn for Ireland’s biogas industry
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