Seven years on, first AD plant connects to grid

Dublin-based Bia Energy has become the first anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in the Republic of Ireland to connect directly to the national gas grid.

The €9m food-waste-to-biomethane facility in Huntstown, Dublin, represents a significant step for Ireland’s developing biomethane sector, some seven years after the State first set a biomethane target in 2019.

The development comes against a backdrop of a lengthy and costly grid connection process for biomethane producers in Ireland.

Projects have faced long connection timelines, high costs and difficulties navigating the process.

Alongside Bia Energy, Gas Networks Ireland has connection agreements with six other biomethane producers.

It was estimated that up to 200 AD plants would be needed to meet the latest State target of 5.7TWh of biomethane by 2030.

Grant

Bia Energy is also one of seven biomethane companies that recently received funding under the Government’s National Biomethane Strategy Capital Grant Scheme, receiving almost €3.9m towards its capital costs.

However, just €19m of the €40m EU-funded scheme was paid out, with projects still under construction missing out due to tight completion deadlines. The remaining €21m in unspent funding will be returned to the EU.

To facilitate Bia Energy’s direct connection, Gas Networks Ireland constructed an extension to the existing gas network as well as a new Biomethane Network Entry Facility, enabling biomethane produced at the Huntstown site to enter the national gas network.