Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 December 2023
32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to report on the progress of the delayed biomethane strategy; and if he anticipates it will be published before the end of 2023. [55736/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully support the Biomethane industry in Ireland and I am hugely optimistic about the potential growth of the industry.
The Government has set the ambition to develop an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) industry in Ireland to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane per annum by 2030 with an interim target of 1 TWh by 2025. The development of a National Biomethane Strategy was an action announced in Climate Action Plan 23 to guide delivery of this ambitious target.
The development of the Strategy is co-led by my Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Guidance is provided by a Project Working Group, chaired by my Department, and comprised of stakeholders across government. The objective is to align policy, incentives, regulation, and markets to ensure that the agriculture sector can deliver on its sectoral emissions reduction target, businesses can decarbonise their processes and Ireland can meet its EU renewable heat targets for 2023.
Consultants were procured to support the development of the Strategy and to carry out the necessary stakeholder engagement activities. Over the course of six months, discussions were held with circa 60 consultees across 36 groups, including AD and biomethane developers, state bodies, and both supply and demand side entities. The findings of this extensive stakeholder engagement, alongside desk-based research, is informing the Strategy design which sets out a number of key actions to support delivery.
I am working closely with my counterpart Minister Ryan to ensure this. The Strategy is now at the final stage of development and will be submitted to Government for approval to publish shortly.
