From:Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon TD, has announced that payments to successful projects under the 2024 Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme are commencing this week.

Making the announcement, Minister Heydon said:

“I am pleased to announce that payments under the Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme, worth almost €19 million, are expected to begin to successful projects today. This funding is being drawn down through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Since the publication of the Biomethane Strategy, Government has recognised that capital support was needed to kick-start the industry and I am delighted to be able to deliver on this support with these payments. All applications and supporting documentation have been evaluated with payments now being issued. I would also like to thank the SEAI for their involvement and expertise in running the scheme.”

“From an agricultural perspective there are clear benefits to developing the Biomethane sector in Ireland in terms of contributing to the delivery of renewable energy targets. Biomethane also represents a pathway for farmers to diversify income streams. I am keen to see the industry grow and as a result provide opportunities and benefits to the agriculture sector.”

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, said:

“Today marks an important milestone in the delivery of Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy as the first capital grant payments issue to successful projects. These grants demonstrate the Government’s commitment to supporting delivery of Ireland’s target of up to 5.7 terawatt-hours of indigenously produced biomethane annually. Achieving this target will bring substantial benefits across our economy, strengthen our energy security, and support our emissions reduction objectives. Biomethane will play a vital role in the decarbonisation of Ireland’s built environment, industrial activities, and transport sector.”

“Looking ahead, I am pleased to confirm that a further €200 million, secured through the National Development Plan process, will support a second round of capital grants for anaerobic digestion plants. This funding programme is expected to open later in 2026 and will continue through to 2030. Together, these investments will help deliver a cleaner, more secure and more sustainable energy system for generations to come.”

The issuing of the payments to these applicants reinforces the Government’s commitment to supporting the delivery of up to 5.7 terawatt-hours of indigenously produced Biomethane by 2030. These payments come from funding secured by Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, through the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER). The funds are intended to support the initial development of Biomethane in Ireland.

These projects alone have the capacity to deliver approx. 10% of the 2030 target for biomethane production, as set down in the Climate action plan, and will be the equivalent to the heating requirement of 56,000 homes.

This scheme assists with the development of the Biomethane sector by providing a grant to aid capital investment for the construction of new Biomethane plants and upgrades to existing Biogas plants.

20% of total capital investment costs per applicant will be payable to successful projects subject to a maximum level of funding of €5 million per project.

The Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine partnered with SEAI to provide technical expertise and to oversee the administration of the scheme.

Applicants with any queries can [email protected]

In response to global energy market disruption the EU is implementing its REPowerEU Plan. The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility is at the heart of REPowerEU funding. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been developed by the government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

Successful applicants under the Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme funded through REPowerEU and NextGenerationEU.

College Proteins Unlimited Company

Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises

Additional funding has been secured for the Biomethane sector by the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment (DCEE). Up to €200 million is available for a second round of capital grants through the NDP/ICNF (Infrastructure, Nature and Climate Fund) process. DCEE is now in the initial stages of scheme development which will be made available to support the sector further from late 2026 and operate until 2030.