Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 November 2025
151. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which his Department is engaging with enterprise agencies to attract investment into the emerging biomethane and anaerobic digestion sector. [60669/25]
View answerTo assist in the achievement of our national and EU climate and energy targets, the Government has committed to supporting an ambitious target for indigenously produced biomethane annually by 2030. A first step to realising this ambition was the publication of the National Biomethane Strategy, which sets out 25 key strategic actions and outlines the necessary supports needed to drive growth across the biomethane sector.
Chaired by my Department, the Biomethane Implementation Group oversees implementation of the strategy and monitors overall target delivery. The Implementation Group’s members consist of key Departments, Agencies and industry representatives, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Transport; the Commission for Regulation of Utilities; Teagasc; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland; the Renewable Gas Forum Ireland; the Irish BioEnergy Association; the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland; the National Treasury Management Agency; and Enterprise Ireland.
Extensive analysis was carried out as part of the development of the National Biomethane Strategy to determine the necessary interventions needed to support development of the industry, and deliver in line with Government ambition by 2030. This analysis included engagement with key Government Departments and wider stakeholders, including in the transport sector.
As outlined in the strategy, Government agreed to the provision of two capital grant support programmes, and the introduction of the Renewable Heat Obligation, which will put Ireland on a trajectory to delivering a strong indigenous biomethane industry.
Budget 2026 demonstrates the Government's commitment to accelerate Ireland’s energy transition and underpin Ireland’s transition to net-zero. The €500 million allocation to my Department, under the Infrastructure Climate and Nature Fund in the revised National Development Plan for 2026-2030, will be delivered across a number of programmes which will accelerate the diversification and decarbonisation of Ireland’s energy system, including the development of our newly emerging national biomethane market. Further detail on programme allocations will be announced shortly.
In addition, the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund is exploring how it can support this sector through investment, particularly at farm level. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland is analysing how it can underpin investment in anaerobic digestion development by providing loan guarantees.
