The Biomethane for Carbon Community (BCC) Project is based at the National Bioeconomy Campus, Lisheen, and the Tipperary Decarbonising Zone within the EU Just Transition Fund (JTF) area. Phase 1 of the project is completed. Phase 2 will drive investment in new biomethane plants locally and regionally while strengthening the Biomethane Development Office as a key support service.
The BCC will in the short term create 6 jobs with the future potential, from further phases, to mobilise investment of €10 – €15m in new biomethane infrastructure and create 16 indirect jobs as a result of direct investment in a Biomethane plant (40GWh) to be located at Lisheen and supply/demand network in the JTF and wider area. It is envisaged that a pool of suppliers will emerge from the 250 – 300 farmers/biomass suppliers in the JTF area (and surrounding region) which could potentially benefit from a new biomethane plant (with further plants to be supported in the region in due course).
More project details can be found here.
As part of the Biomethane for Carbon and Community project, TEA led the development of a comprehensive Planning, Permitting and Policy Guidelines report, providing a practical, end-to-end roadmap for agri-led biomethane projects in Ireland. Key activities included:
This report is aimed at a broad audience involved in or affected by biomethane development in Ireland, including agri-sector developers and landowners considering anaerobic digestion projects, planning consultants and environmental practitioners preparing applications, local authority planners and elected members assessing proposals, and regulators, funding bodies and community stakeholders seeking to understand the consenting landscape. It is equally relevant to policy makers looking to align national biomethane ambitions with on-the-ground delivery.
Establish a Biomethane Development Office (BDO) located in the National Bioeconomy Campus site in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary which would act as an independent resource to support and enable communities, enterprises and the agriculture sector to develop an economically feasible biomethane concept.
Conduct a feasibility study/business case of the potential for the development of biomethane within the Tipperary DZ and the wider JTF area. This would include assessment of available biomethane resources (agricultural slurry, organic wastes etc) as well as potential end use (gas injection, direct supply etc).
Develop and deliver a biomethane communication campaign and capacity building activities to communities, the agricultural sector, elected members, local authority staff and others within the JTF and wider region.
Liaise with stakeholders to consider how the biomethane and biodiversity concept can be incorporated into existing schemes and practices.
Develop a sustainability plan for the BDO to become a regional/national centre of excellence on biomethane, that would act as an example for the development of similar cooperative concepts in Tipperary, the JTF area and the wider region.
Set out a specification and timeline for Stage 2 of the development – Planning, Construction and Delivery of a Biomethane Facility with private sector investment and support.
Identify a suitable site in the Bioeconomy Campus at Lisheen for a biomethane facility with a view to supporting investment in such a facility (including options for community/cooperative ownership model).
Explore community and cooperative models for the development of biomethane capacity within the JTF region and beyond.
Consider the synergies between the emerging and developing bioeconomy sector and biomethane sector with a view to positioning the National Bioeconomy Campus as centre of excellence in this regard. By placing the BDO at the IBF National Bioeconomy Campus, synergies across the bioeconomy sector can be exploited.
The Biomethane for Carbon and Community Project is co
funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union
through the EU Just Transition Fund Programme 2021-2027.