The €26m Co Donegal farm biogas plant linked to the collapse of a leading renewable energy contractor in Northern Ireland failed inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency last year.

“Two investigations are currently open by the EPA in relation to the licence and the EPA is currently considering all enforcement options available to it in relation to licence compliance,” a spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Williams Industrial Services (WIS) had been building the anaerobic digester at Glenmore estate in Ballybofey when it went into administration with the loss of 145 jobs on 6 February. Glenmore is the group of companies that bought the 2,400-acre An Grianán estate last year.

The EPA found two non-compliances on fire and water risk assessment and air emissions while visiting the site last April. Another inspection followed a spill in September but found it was later corrected.

The EPA is still assessing an application by Glenmore to transfer its licence to an NI-registered company.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that environmental compliance at Ballybofey is among the “contractual issues” which administrators said led WIS to “run out of funds”.

“The facility is currently not operational due to process issues and this is being addressed by the licensee in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture,” the EPA spokesperson said.

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Cross-border biogas contractor collapses