New biomethane energy park planned for Westmeath

Irish developer Stream BioEnergy Ireland Limited has applied for planning permission for a major new biomethane production facility in Westmeath, capable of producing enough renewable gas to meet the annual demand of approximately 7,000 homes.

The proposed development, to be known as the Flynn Renewable Energy Park, would be located on a 4.63-hectare site in the townland of Newdown, The Downs, Mullingar, on land owned by well-known businessman and renewable energy entrepreneur Thomas Flynn.

The site is situated close to an existing feed mill and an approved solar farm, approximately 185 metres southwest of the R156 road.

Feedstock

According to planning documents, the facility would process up to 99,000 tonnes of organic feedstocks annually, including separately collected food waste, organic materials from the agri-food sector and agricultural manures.

These materials would be processed through anaerobic digestion to produce up to approximately 80 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of renewable biomethane each year, which would be injected into the national gas network.

The development would also produce digestate for agricultural use and recover biogenic carbon dioxide as part of the production process.

The application seeks planning permission for a period of 10 years and is being brought forward as a renewable energy development under the EU's Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III).

Layout

Plans for the facility include a substantial main processing building extending to 5,573 square metres, with a maximum height of approximately 15.3 metres, along with a 1,066-square-metre biofilter building incorporating an odour-control system and a 30-metre emission stack.

The development would include four anaerobic digester tanks and a digestate storage tank, each approximately 17 metres high, together with liquid feedstock storage tanks, a biogas upgrading plant and a carbon dioxide liquefaction facility.

Other infrastructure would include two combined heat and power units, a boiler, gas flare, gas grid entry unit and associated processing equipment.

A potential connection to the national gas network has been identified following engagement with Gas Networks Ireland.

The planning documents state that the 10-year permission being sought would allow sufficient time to coordinate the gas connection process with construction and commissioning of the plant.

Momentum

The applicant says the development would represent a significant investment in indigenous renewable energy infrastructure in Westmeath and would contribute to national objectives on renewable energy, climate action, energy security and the circular economy.

Stream BioEnergy is also involved in a number of other biomethane and anaerobic digestion projects across Ireland.

The company is currently constructing a biomethane facility at Little Island in Cork and operates a chicken manure processing plant at Tully, near Ballymena, in Northern Ireland.

It also has plans for a further facility in Monaghan progressing through the planning system.