Nephin Energy has established a new company which aims to become Ireland's largest producer of biomethane.
The part-owner of the Corrib Gas field off the Mayo coast, the company has established a new company Nephin Renewable Gas (NRG) based in Tipperary Town. The firm is focused on developing biomethane production at scale in Ireland.
Biomethane plants are now operating across 24 different European countries. To date, Europe is home to nearly 20,000 biogas plants and over 1,300 biomethane plants. Through anaerobic digestion (AD), the plants take agricultural and food production waste including slurry, grass and crops to generate gas that is converted into energy.
In addition to producing biomethane, hundreds of direct and indirect jobs will be created all around rural Ireland from the operation and maintenance of the AD plants. The gas can also replace natural gas on the network and is compatible with existing appliances, technologies and vehicles.
NRG said its plants will enable farmers to reduce their own carbon footprint by allowing them to redirect their slurries and manures away from the land towards biomethane plants. In turn, this will help reduce the level of nitrates entering Ireland’s streams and rivers.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB
"We are delighted to be setting up our headquarters in Tipperary Town, in the heart of the Golden Vale," Tom O’Brien, Managing Director of Nephin Energy, said. "Our ambition is to become Ireland’s leading biomethane production company."
"In building this business, we look forward to making a meaningful investment in Ireland’s rural economies and partnering with farmers to give them a real opportunity to benefit from the green energy transition.’’
The new office facility was officially opened by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney.
"Companies like Nephin Renewable Gas will play a pivotal role in helping Ireland achieve its Climate Action target of delivering 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030," he said.
"Producing biomethane at scale in Ireland will make a significant contribution towards our ability to reduce climate emissions across hard-to-abate energy demand sectors, such as manufacturing and transport."