8.3 Bioenergy

As part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission has committed to achieving a series of actions under the Fit for 55 Package. It is a highly significant, cross-sectoral package detailing the binding actions, by which it is proposed the EU will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, as compared to 1990 levels. The Fit for 55 package consists of proposals to amend existing legislation, as well as new initiatives in climate, energy & fuels, transport, buildings, land use and forestry.

There is also the REPowerEU Plan proposed by the European Commission which aims at rapidly decreasing the European Union’s dependency on Russian fossil fuels. Measures related to renewable energy and energy efficiency include increasing EU’s 2030 target to 45% renewables in the EU mix, up from the current target of 40% or an additional 169GW to the Fitfor55 2030 target of 1,067 GW.

In July 2022, as part of the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), published a target of 5.7 TWh, 10% of national gas demand, to come from Biomethane by 2030.

While energy policy is a matter for DECC, DAFM continues to work very closely on related matters promoting energy efficiency. These include increasing on-farm generation of renewable energy and regulating agricultural feedstocks to produce indigenous biomethane as the renewable alternative to natural gas. There will be increased opportunities for the agriculture sector to turn renewable biological resources and agriculture by-products into value-added bio-based products and bio-energy. Realising the potential of such opportunities will require sustained attention over the period ahead.

In addition, DAFM continues to support farmers, foresters and landowners to participate in this energy transition through achieving energy use efficiencies, the deployment of renewable energy technology sources for self-consumption and in the provision of biomass feedstocks.

Capital Supports for Renewal Energy Solar Capital Investment Scheme

TAMS 3 Solar Capital Investment Scheme was announced and opened for applications in early 2023. The Solar Capital Investment Scheme will encourage the purchase of solar investments, thereby reducing dependence on fossil energy. Farmers will be able to apply for a Solar PV grant for their farm. The Scheme will be ring fenced with its own investment ceiling of €90,000 and will be grant aided at the enhanced rate of 60%.

Adoption of sustainable energy practices at farm level, including energy efficiency, deployment of renewables at farm level and the provision of agriculture feedstocks for renewable energy generation, is a key climate pillar for the agriculture sector in:

Reducing energy costs on farm; M

Reducing the carbon footprint at farm level; and M

Contributing to the decarbonisation of the overall energy system. M

Microgeneration Support Scheme

The Microgeneration Support Scheme was launched in December 2021 by DECC. It provides a range of supports to assist homes, businesses and farms to develop renewable generation for self-consumption. It also provides a micro-generation enabling framework to introduce payments to micro-generators for exported electricity.

Non-Domestic Microgen Grant

The Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant (NDMG) provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. This technology reduces commercial electricity costs and increases security of supply, while enhancing a positive sustainability image. Grant funding is available for systems up to a maximum 1,000kWp. This grant is available to businesses, the agricultural sector, public sector bodies, schools, community centres and non-profit societies. This grant is offered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH)

State support is available for anaerobic digestion and biomass through the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) available through the SEAI. This Scheme provides financial support for operational support for biomass and biogas heating systems. It also bridges the gap between the installation and operating costs of renewable heating systems and the conventional fossil fuel alternatives. It supports an installation grant and ongoing operational support for some technologies for a period of up to 15 years. Technologies which are part of this Scheme are as follows:

Air source heat pumps M

Ground source heat pumps M

Water source heat pumps. M

Biomass boiler or biomass HE CHP heating systems M

Biogas (anaerobic digestion) boiler or biogas HE CHP heating systems. M

Renewable Heat Obligation Scheme Government has decided to introduce an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat by 2024. The renewable heat obligation (RHO) will support an increased use of renewable energy in the heat sector and contribute to a reduction in emissions in line with Ireland’s climate ambitions. As Ireland imports most of its fossil fuels, the heating sector is a significant contributor to Ireland’s high energy import dependency. The RHO will also help reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthen our energy security due to greater diversification of our energy streams. The cost impact could, therefore, be spread across all consumers of nonrenewable fuels and the financial burden would not fall on any particular sub-sector or area.

CAP23 commits to the introduction of this Obligation by Q1 2024, and impact analysis on potential obligation parameters is currently underway, the results of which will inform the basis of the next phase of stakeholder engagement. This phase of consultation is due to launch in the second half of 2023 and will include an online public consultation and engagement with key stakeholders. Feedback received will directly inform the final structure of the RHO.

Anaerobic Digestion The Anaerobic Digestion (AD) industry in Ireland is at a nascent stage of development, when compared to the more established industry in many European countries. There are potential opportunities for farmers to participate in this sector not only as owner/operators of AD plants but also in the provision of feedstocks to the industry. Anaerobic Digestion can use a range of feedstocks from food waste to animal slurries and poultry litter to grass and other silage crops. AD and the production of renewable gas has a key role to play in the decarbonisation of our energy sector and will provide an opportunity for land use diversification and income for farmers. DAFM has a key regulatory role to play when using animal-by-products as feedstock for Anaerobic Digestion.

Figure from page 247

Figure from page 247

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Government has decided to introduce an obligation on

the heat sector to include renewable heat by 2024.

Biomethane Strategy As a first key step, Climate Action Plan 2023 commits to developing a National Biomethane Strategy, which is being co-led by DAFM and DECC. The objective of this strategy is to develop an agri-centric model of biomethane production that will provide diversification opportunities for farmers through the supply of a variety of agricultural feedstocks. In addition, this biomethane (renewable gas) will be used to decarbonise the energy system through the displacement of fossil gas.

Development of the strategy will include careful and extensive research on scaling up the anaerobic digestion industry to help us meet the targets set out in the government decision on sectoral emissions ceilings. A dedicated biomethane steering group has been established under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Taskforce. The group oversees an all-ofgovernment approach to developing the strategy.

A primary focus of the working group is an examination of the types of supports necessary to kick start this industry. The group will also carry out extensive analysis on the best end use of the 5.7TWh target of biomethane production in Ireland by 2030, along with a focus on production in a sustainable manner. The group is currently developing a high-level action plan which will include extensive stakeholder engagement activities.

Biomass Supply Wood grown in Irish forests is a valuable commodity and it is used across a wide variety of applications including bioenergy. Material derived from thinning operations can be used as bioenergy to offset the use of fossil fuels. Thinning operations can also enhance the quality of the final timber produced. When this timber is then used to manufacture wood products, the sequestered carbon remains stored until the end of life of the product, which further mitigates climate change. Other forest harvest biomass such as brash and smaller materials, not suitable for wood products, can also be used for bioenergy purposes.

DAFM supports the mobilisation and use of forest biomass through the All-Ireland Roundwood Production Forecast 2021 -2040, which provides the best available information on future wood supply from Ireland’s forests. This report informs energy users in the biomass supply chain to estimate predicted supplies now and into the future. A spatial geographic information system (GIS) map browser is available to allow the user to define a specific geographic area and to make custom-made forecasts of available wood biomass.

Outlook There is an opportunity for the farmers, foresters and landowners to become more actively involved in the generation of renewable electricity, primarily for on-farm use, while also supplying biomass feedstocks to the renewable energy sector.

DAFM remains committed to providing supports for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy production, in particular for grant support for solar PV, as provided through TAMS. DAFM has developed and will continue to develop a number of schemes and initiatives designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. There is a potential for increased farmer involvement in the provision of agricultural feedstocks to the anaerobic digestion sector. Farmers will continue to play a lead role in meeting our commitments under the Climate Action Plan with the plan helping to identify new income streams for them. The targets are challenging but deliverable, with anaerobic digestion identified as one of the key areas for development. This could help us achieve our goal for 5.7TWh by 2030. The Biomethane Strategy due to be delivered in second half of 2023, will set out a roadmap to develop a sustainable biomethane industry of scale, meeting the ambitious production targets.

Figure from page 249

Figure from page 249

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