Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action

Renewable Energy - Wind, Solar and Biogas: Discussion

Mr. Donal Dennehy:

The sole reason I am engaged in this today is that we need biomethane to replace natural gas. We have no choice. We buy green electricity already and we have done that for many years. It is impossible to buy green gas and it will not be available unless we support and build industry.

If we really want to support decarbonisation, both as a company and nationally, we need the alternative to be located here. We have spoken about a figure of 12%. Danone is committed to taking 100%, which is a huge amount, in one company. Dairygold will take another large proportion. Dairygold will supply us. Members can see how the chain will start to come together. Farmers will also be producing it. That is the model we are considering. I will refer to my colleague on how it is done.