Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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7. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the other capital supports that will be provided in order that Ireland can achieve its target for biomethane development of 5.7 TW hours, given that currently the renewable heat obligation scheme is the only scheme in place to assist in achieving these targets but is not due to commence until 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61213/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As part of its decision on the Sectoral Emissions Ceilings, Government agreed to the introduction of an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat by 2024, and the production of up to 5.7Twh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. The introduction of the Renewable Heat Obligation will support and encourage the production of biomethane, and further increase the use of renewable heat.The development of an anaerobic digestion (AD) industry is at a nascent stage of development in Ireland. It is clear from the experience of other jurisdictions in which AD is well established that there is a need for both capital and operational support to kick start an industry. This will require an all-of-government approach and my Department, together with Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, is developing a National Biomethane Strategy to reach the 5.7Twh target.

A project working group to develop the National Biomethane Strategy will be established shortly under the auspices of the Heat and Built Environment Task Force. This project working group will focus on, inter alia, the types of supports that will be necessary to reach the target.