Mr. Se?n Finan:

I will take a couple of the questions. The Senator mentioned the 1.6 TWh. We see that as a very conservative target in the medium term. However, we are starting from a standing start in terms of the deployment of an industry. In 2019, IrBEA and Cré worked jointly on a policy paper which set out a roadmap for how that could be mobilised. We were very clear, and Mr. Foster has mentioned it in previous contributions, that it has to be a phased approach where we start by building 20 plants and see what happens in terms of how that could be deployed, what challenges that is raising and what issues are arising, and then be able to address those in the next phase in the further roll-out of the industry. There is huge ambition being talked about for the industry, but it is our firm belief that we must start at a level which allows the concerns to be alleviated through the roll-out of an industry. We agree with the phased approach, which is very clear in our policy paper. We also agree with the review mechanism by which one would learn from one phase for the next phase.

Regarding what is sustainable in terms of an industry, the SEAI heat study that was recently published refers to a 5 TWh biomethane figure. That is an increase in ambition beyond the 1.6 TWh. There is lots of potential for a significant figure way beyond that, but initially we are very clear in stating that it has to be mobilised on a phased basis by starting with a small number of plants, seeing what the lessons from those are and then progress to alleviate the fears that are raised.

The Senator's second point was about fodder and the shortage. Returning to our joint policy paper, which is currently being reviewed based on the economic situation in which we find ourselves and what the economic requirements are, the broad principles of that paper still remain. From a fodder perspective, we see the development of a biomethane-biogas industry in Ireland as being a strategic resource. If one looks at previous fodder shortages that took place in Ireland, generally a fodder shortage would only be for a few weeks depending on the particular situation, perhaps a drought or other circumstances. The fodder that came into the country for previous fodder shortages over a number of years came from the biogas industry across Europe because it had the reserves built up so it could release it at a point in time.

We see an AD industry as complementing the fodder industry from the point of view that the AD facilities would build up a supply of feed. That potentially could be sold back to the farmers in the times of shortage at the price they received for it. In the intervening period the biogas plants could look at alternative feedstocks in the form of glycerine or other products which would take them over the hump at that particular moment in time. Then when the fodder situation is alleviated, the farmers could again supply that feed back to the plant to build the reserve again. We would see a biomethane-biogas industry being very complementary to the agricultural processes and systems with regard to fodder. All that is outlined very clearly in the joint policy paper that we developed. That paper is currently being looked at to review and update it to take account of the current economic situation with pricing and also some of the policy developments that have happened in REPowerEU, farm to fork and other policies that have emerged since and with which we need to be aligned.