Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the policies his Department will be pursuing to develop biomethane production in the State; and if he considers this a fuel for electricity generation. [21210/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Climate Action Plan, which was published in June 2019, included an action to set a target for the level of energy to be supplied by indigenous biomethane by 2030.The National Energy & Climate Plan was approved by Government and published last month. This plan sets an indicative target for indigenous biomethane of 1.6 TWh which would replace circa three percent of natural gas use. 

The indicative target takes into account the sustainability of available feedstock and is the level identified in the Marginal Abatement Cost Curve developed for the Climate Action Plan that is considered part of the most cost-effective pathway to reduce emissions. It is intended to review the indicative target in 2023.

The National Energy & Climate Plan also set out the options for supporting biomethane that are under consideration which include:

- an obligation in the transport sector through the Biofuels Obligation Scheme;

- a new obligation in the heat sector; and

- an exchequer funded support.

While biomethane can be used for electricity generation, it is expected that wind and solar will be the primary renewable energy sources in the electricity sector. My Department is therefore focused on developing polices and measures to support biomethane use in the heat and transport sectors.