Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
559. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has taken any action to promote the use of biogas from agricultural waste; and if he has promoted the use of biomethane fuel in agricultural vehicles. [50764/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe use of biogas from agricultural waste through Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is an area that has been supported by my Department. A Scheme of Investment Aid for Demonstration of On-Farm Waste Processing Facilities was introduced by my Department in June 2006, with funding of €4m. In 2007, grant-aid was approved under the Scheme for the development of ten on-farm anaerobic digestion facilities. The grant-aid is payable only on completion of the work concerned and one grant of €400,000 has been drawn down to-date. Applicants, on request, are being provided with extensions until end-June 2014 to complete the investment works needed in order to draw down the grant-aid available.
My Department also provided funding for research under the Stimulus fund 2007–2013 to three projects related to anaerobic digestion which are ongoing. The price supports via Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff for AD announced by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, indexed and offered on a 15-year basis, have the potential to underpin the development of the technology in Ireland. The introduction of these tariffs was supported by my Department.
Officials from my Department are contributing to a working group chaired by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on the development of a National Bioenergy Strategy to be published shortly. The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is also represented on this working group. Among the issues being considered as part of the development of this strategy document are AD and the potential for utilising biogas and biomethane. The strategy document, when completed, will take account of the various strands of bioenergy that are dealt with within my Department, with a view to maximising their potential contribution to achieving renewable energy targets for 2020 and beyond.
