Gas Networks Ireland has connected College Group’s new €30 million biomethane facility in Nobber, Co. Meath, to Ireland’s national gas network, enabling the business to transform waste into renewable gas.
The biomethane produced at the facility will not only increase the amount of renewable gas on the network but will also be used to power College Groups own operations and bioCNG1 vehicles.
College Group is the second major biomethane producer to connect directly to the gas network this month and the move highlights the growing momentum behind Ireland’s indigenous biomethane sector. It also demonstrates a circular energy model in action, with College Group producing renewable gas from food waste and other organic materials and using a portion of that biomethane to both power its own facility and fuel its newly acquired bioCNG vehicles.
Speaking as she officially launched College Group’s connection to the gas network, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee T.D. said: “It is fantastic to see a business from my own constituency at the forefront of Ireland’s transition to renewable energy. College Group has been an important part of the Nobber community and economy for more than 35 years and its continued investment in innovation, renewable energy and new technologies demonstrates the contribution that ambitious Irish businesses can make to our national climate and energy goals.
“This facility is a great example of the circular economy in action, taking food and agri-food by-products and transforming them into a valuable source of renewable energy. It is also an important investment in the local economy, supporting jobs and demonstrating that the transition to a lower-carbon economy can deliver real opportunities for communities across Ireland.
“Projects such as this also have an important role to play in strengthening Ireland’s energy security. Producing more of our own renewable energy here in Ireland from resources generated within our own economy, means greater resilience and less reliance on imported energy.”
The facility, which received support through a Government capital grant of €2.4m, has an annual production capacity of up to 75 GWh of biomethane, takes food and agri-food by-products and transforms them through anaerobic digestion into renewable biomethane gas.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Chief Executive Officer, David Kelly said: “This is the second biomethane facility to connect directly to the national gas network this month and is a powerful signal of the momentum now building behind Ireland’s biomethane industry. What makes College Group particularly significant is the circularity of their energy model of converting waste to gas to fuel their facility, as well as entering the national network.
“This is important not just because of the volume of gas being produced at this facility, but because of what it represents for the wider market. The connection of another producer demonstrates that Ireland has the capability to develop, connect and utilise indigenous renewable gas at scale. It sends a strong signal to potential producers and investors that biomethane has a significant place in Ireland’s future energy system.
“Biomethane will help strengthen Ireland’s energy security by providing an indigenous source of renewable gas, while also supporting the decarbonisation of sectors where gas continues to play an important role. Gas Networks Ireland is committed to facilitating the development of the infrastructure needed to enable Ireland’s biomethane sector to grow.”
College Group’s new facility uses anaerobic digestion to transform primarily commercial food waste, alongside material from its wider operations into biomethane.
The development is a strong example of the circular economy in action, transforming organic material that would otherwise require disposal into a valuable source of renewable energy.
College Group’s Commercial Director, John Paul Gilroy said: “This is a hugely significant milestone for College Group and for our business in Nobber. We have been operating here for more than 35 years and have always looked at ways of creating value from what would otherwise be considered a waste stream.
“Our new anaerobic digestion facility takes that approach to another level, transforming food and agri-food by-products into renewable gas. Having that gas now connected to the national network is a major achievement for our team and demonstrates what can be achieved through continued investment and innovation.
“What makes this particularly exciting is that we are not only producing renewable energy but also finding ways to use it within our own business, including in our vehicles. It is a great example of how the circular economy can work in practice.
“The plant is also the newest addition to our circular economy park here in Nobber. Across the site, waste products are transformed into renewable fuels and energy – together delivering close to 200,000 tonnes of CO₂ savings every year.
“We are proud to be a local employer and to continue developing new opportunities here while contributing to Ireland’s renewable energy ambitions.”
College Group has an offtake agreement in place with Flogas for biomethane to be used as BioCNG to fuel heavy goods vehicles, providing a lower carbon alternative to diesel and supporting the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
College Group’s Nobber facility has an annual production capacity of up to 75 GWh of biomethane and the addition of a biomethane production plant represents a significant additional investment by the company.
College Group, which has been operating since 1989, now employs more than 150 people and has developed into one of Ireland’s leading integrated circular bioeconomy platforms, converting agri-food and organic waste streams into high-value, low-carbon products.
Gas Networks Ireland is working to facilitate and assist the expansion of Ireland’s biomethane sector and has connection agreements with seven producers. Together these seven contracted producers represent almost 13% of the State’s target of having 5.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of biomethane production by 2030. The delivery and commissioning of these facilities will play an important role in supporting Ireland’s national target.
Structurally identical to natural gas, biomethane is a carbon neutral renewable gas that can be made from farm and food waste through a natural biological process known as anaerobic digestion. It is fully compatible with the existing national gas network and can seamlessly replace natural gas to reduce emissions in heating, industry, transport, and power generation.
In addition to producing biomethane, the anaerobic digestion process also creates a nutrient-rich biofertiliser known as digestate which can be used to replace chemical fertilisers and recycle nutrients back into the food production system, with significant positive circular economy and environmental benefits.
Connecting the College Group facility is part of Gas Networks Ireland’s wider programme to facilitate the development of Ireland’s renewable gas sector and connect indigenous biomethane producers to the national gas network.
As Ireland’s economy continues to grow and demand for energy remains strong, the development of indigenous renewable gas can help diversify the country’s energy supply, reduce reliance on imported fossil gas and provide a route to decarbonise sectors where alternatives to gas are more challenging.
