The South East Energy Agency hosted its first joint stakeholder meeting for the Interreg Europe funded projects with co-funding from the European Union, EXPRESS and UNIFHY, to discuss the potential of bioenergy and green hydrogen in driving energy transition in the South-east region of Ireland. This event which held on 27th November 2024 in Kilkenny City, had in attendance, industry leaders, policymakers, community stakeholders, local authorities, the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), and members of the IrBEA.
Economic Prospects for Bioenergy in South-east Ireland
Speaking on EXPRESS Project’s linkage to strategies and regional development work, the Project Officer, Stephen Oba, gave an overview of EXPRESS explaining that the focus of the Project will be on Regional Policy Objective 98 (RPO 98) which aims to support the development of a Regional Renewable Energy Strategy with relevant stakeholders. He stated that the objective is to improve some specific areas to assist in achieving this RPO as outlined under the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES)Project Charter for Regional Renewable Energy Strategy for the Southern Region.
Areas in need of Improvement:
- Development of Renewable Energy Resources – Developing key actions that can be taken at regional level to achieve regional targets including setting out good practices for stakeholders and communities.
- Awareness Raising, Engagement & Communications – Awareness raising, consciousness building, education/information. Creation of an effective way to understand outputs that will assist the communication strategy of the Regional Renewable Energy Strategy for the Southern region.
The Project Officer shared the state of play of Ireland’s renewable energy targets, highlighting the potentials from bioenergy projects and the economic impact especially on employment such as the creation of 240 green jobs, 15% CO2 reduction, 19 new bio-CNG stations and the potential for bioenergy to fulfil 47% of the energy needs for the region.
Enabling Green Hydrogen Solutions
Speaking on the importance of green hydrogen and its potential in Ireland, UNIFHY Project Officer, Martin Desgrandchamps, gave an overview of the Project and what it seeks to achieve, stating that UNIFHY will offer technical and financial support for green hydrogen and biogas projects, a platform where best practices from Europe’s leading regions will be shared while offering support for hydrogen adoption for transport, industry, and energy storage.
Martin emphasised the needs to build partnerships to turn potential into real-world results, overcome barriers such as regulatory and infrastructure gaps and collaborate across sectors to drive solutions and policy innovation.
Overall, South-east’s potential includes but not limited to:
- Strong agricultural sector – feedstock for biogas to complement hydrogen.
- Renewable energy – Opportunity to produce green hydrogen.
- Waterford Renewable Energy Strategy – A regional blueprint for innovation.
Regional Policy Development for Biogas and Hydrogen
The Regional Planning Officer for Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), Dominic Walsh, in his presentation, shared the RSES vision; to make the southern region one of Europe’s most creative & innovative, greenest and liveable regions, adopting the strategy of resilience, inclusion and sustainability to support economic Growth.
Dominic Walsh accentuated the revised National Planning Framework (RNPF) which underscored the role of the Circular Bioeconomy in reducing our carbon footprint & including the potential of Biomethane. The RNPF sets regional targets for onshore renewable energy which will see every region prepare a Regional Renewable Energy Strategy (RRES), to allocate the renewable energy targets for onshore wind and solar projects in each Local Authority Area.
Concluding the presentation, the Officer, noted that there are three key objectives relating to the EXPRESS Project which will support regional strategy development and that inputs from UNIFHY and EXPRESS can be integrated into regional policy when the RSES is reviewed. In his words, ‘SRA supports these projects and their work in development of Green Hydrogen and the broader strategic objectives of the EXPRESS Project’.
Transition of Ireland’s Gas Supplies
Biomethane Programme Manager, Gas Network Ireland (GNI), Pádraig Fleming, charted a pathway to decarbonisation and the critical role GNI plays in the country’s energy system today.
Interestingly, Pádraig Fleming’s projections included conversion of the pipeline between Galway and Dublin and the completion of a new National H2 ring main, the capability of biomethane meeting 25% – 30% of national gas needs allowing seamless decarbonisation with no impact to end users and appliances, the need for hydrogen to cater for the remaining 70%-75% of enduring gas demand.
‘Assuming Biomethane has scaled to sustainable levels that would support a dedicated network, the national gas network could be split into two distinct renewable gas networks’, Pádraig said.
The Project Manager further stated GNI’s readiness to adopt the ‘2% blend’; certify all network assets and activities for 2% hydrogen under current existing gas safety framework and enable import, transportation and supply of a 2% blend across the network through amendments to the Code of Operations. These in turn support Ireland’s National Hydrogen Strategy Action Plan.
Key on GNI’s agenda is the development of industrial clusters which start from assisting in the creation of hydrogen clusters; a collection of businesses and applications working in or associated with the hydrogen industry in a geographical area.
Bioenergy Boost: The Policy Shifts We Need Now
In relation to increased use of bioenergy and policies needed, the CEO of Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA), Sean Finan, spoke on the crucial role of bioenergy in the world, stressing that this is the largest source of renewable energy in the EU.
The CEO introduced the Biomass Harvesting Document (2024) aimed at but not limited to increasing the biomass resource for renewable energy use, maintaining and improving site productivity while protecting site biodiversity. Sean Finan was also optimistic that bioenergy will and is delivering in our transport system.
To maximise the potential of the solid biomass and wood fuel sector, the CEO called for key policy and regulatory shifts. These include amending the solid fuel regulations to address existing gaps, strengthening enforcement mechanisms through enhanced coordination among government bodies, and implementing the Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment (DETE) roadmap for decarbonising industrial heat. Some other key points he raised are:
- Legislate for the amendments to improve and address items in the obligated solid biomass in the Renewable Heat Obligations (RHO).
- Enhanced Government, Department, EPA and Local Authority focus to address significant gaps that exist in the enforcement of the solid fuel regulations
- Enhanced Government, agency and industry promotion and recognition of solid biomass as a decarbonisation option & recognition of biochar for its uses and as a carbon removal technology.
- Promotion and growth of indigenous biofuel production in transport sector & sustainably sourced Irish derived waste fats (tallow) and oil – FAME Biodiesel
- Economic models, production and market development
- Upskilling, training and knowledge
‘Government must provide the necessary policy and conditions to attract investment and ensure the long-term viability and financial sustainability of the biomethane sector’.
Finally, he urged greater investment in upskilling and training to support the growing bioenergy sector, ensuring that the necessary workforce is equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the industry’s evolving demands.
In conclusion, the event provided an avenue for participants to discuss the future of renewable energy in the South-east, engage in sessions and a collaborative roundtable to explore key opportunities, challenges, and policy needs in advancing renewable gas solutions. Practical knowledge was gained and connections with like-minded professionals was established as we work together to shape a sustainable energy future.
Find out more about EXPRESS Project in Ireland
Find out more about UNIFHY Project in Ireland
See some photos from the stakeholder event:
