Tom Neville (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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1494. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the status of biomethane within the RHI market; the reason biomethane does not have a greater presence in the SEAI studies, in view of the fact that approximately 60% of industry is using gas and approximately 50% of residences are using gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1045/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The 2015 Energy White Paper sets out a vision and a framework to guide Irish energy policy and the actions that Government intends to take in the energy sector from now up to 2030 to transform Ireland's fossil-fuel based energy sector into a clean, low carbon system. The White Paper recognised that biogas has an important role to play in contributing to this transition.

Biogas, which is produced by anaerobic digestion (AD), can be utilised to generate electricity and/or heat or used as a transport fuel. In addition, biomethane, produced by removing impurities from biogas, can be used as a substitute for natural gas and can be injected directly into the gas network. An assessment of the specific costs and benefits of biogas and biomethane is currently being undertaken by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland with a view to developing new policy options and recommendations for the use of biogas and biomethane.

These options may include the introduction of a tariff to support the injection of biomethane into the national gas grid which is being considered in the development of a Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. Before a final decision is taken on the technologies to be supported under the RHI scheme, there will be a public consultation phase on the design of the scheme. Details of the consultation, when they become available, will be posted to my Department’s website .