A new National Heat Plan produced by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) outlines how grass and slurry will play a key role in supplying anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the coming years to produce renewable gas.

The study examined two scenarios on how an AD industry would develop. Under the first scenario, the dairy herd increases by 10% by 2030, but the suckler herd reduces by 23%.

The SEAI estimated that slurry and grass, some of which is sourced from suckler herds which have reduced numbers, could deliver 2.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of biomethane by 2030. This is equivalent to 5% of Ireland’s current gas demand.

Under the second scenario, the dairy herd increases by 10% by 2030, but the suckler herd reduces by 45% (about 440,000 head).

As a result, more land would be available for silage production and would deliver an extra 1.4 TWh biomethane, which is 8% of current gas demand.

According to the SEAI, there is potential for between 135-255 farm based AD plants in Ireland by 2030, depending on how much the suckler herd will reduce by.

Seán Finan, CEO of the Irish Bioenergy Association, welcomed the report.

He said AD will create alternative enterprise opportunities for farmers while allowing farmers to reduce their emissions footprint.