The Government’s approach to developing Ireland’s anaerobic digestion (AD) sector is complex, costly and appears to be more focused on large-scale developments.

It’s no coincidence that most of the projects in the pipeline are large-scale. This week, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and Food published its report on AD, containing 12 recommendations to support the sector. However, it fails to address a key issue, making AD viable for ordinary farmers. While the National Biomethane Strategy aims to make farm-scale AD viable, the committee’s only recommendation for smaller plants is a grant scheme, which is unlikely to be enough.

That said, AD is set to create a new market for farmers. Dairy processors need milk, maltsters need barley and AD plants will rely on slurry and crops supplied by farmers, creating a new opportunity.

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