Ireland’s government has been urged to secure support from the European Commission’s new REPowerEU initiative. According to Local Power managing director, Pat Smith, it will ensure that a viable biomethane and biofertiliser sector be established. He adds that the “current energy crisis is a wake-up call for large energy-importing member states such as Ireland.”
Earlier this month, the EU announced the planned production of biomethane by 2030. The commission published a communication on a joint action for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy. It included proposals to increase production capacity in Europe to 370 terawatt hours (TWh) per year.
Development within this sector would reduce the country’s dependency on imported gas and fertilisers. It would additionally help the farming community deal with very challenging environmental and climate action targets. Suggestions have been raised that a substantial, once-off capital grant from the government would allow the sector to develop more quickly.
Meanwhile, the European Commission aims to double the production objective of the Fit for 55 plan. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030. In order to achieve this, the commission says that EU member states’ CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) Strategic Plans should channel funding to biomethane production produced from biomass sources, including agricultural wastes and residues in particular.
Smith argues that “Ireland, more than any other country in Europe, needs to move quickly and ensure that we fully participate in the REPowerEU initiative and secure as much funding as possible to assist in the development of a sustainable biomethane and biofertiliser sector.”