Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if grant aid funding is available for anaerobic digesters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26176/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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Anaerobic digestion (AD) harnesses natural bacteria to treat biodegradable materials to produce biogas. Biogas can be upgraded to sustainable biomethane which is fully compatible with the national gas network and existing appliances, technologies, and vehicles, and can seamlessly replace fossil gas to reduce emissions in industrial heating, transport, and power generation.

My Department has developed a number of schemes and initiatives designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. These schemes include the grid scale, auction based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) and the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). Both the RESS and SSRH schemes include AD for electricity generation with High Efficiency Combined Heat and Power as an eligible technology.

Government has committed to deliver up to 5.7TWh of indigenously produced biomethane by 2030. The National Biomethane Strategy published on the 28 May sets out the support approach and necessary measures to support development of an indigenous AD sector of scale.

In an effort to kick start the industry, the Minister for Agriculture has recently launched a call for expressions of interest for capital grant support of €40m. AD plants currently operating to produce biogas will be eligible for capital support to upgrade their facilities to produce biomethane and other bio-based products, along with new AD plants.

My Department will take responsibility for a second round of capital funding from 2026 which will support up to an additional 1.5 TWh by 2030. As with the initial support programme, it is envisaged that AD plants in operation upgrading to biomethane production and new plant builds with full planning and permitting permissions would be eligible for capital support.

The expression of interest call for the first round of capital grant support closes shortly, and I would encourage anyone who wants to apply for the grant to complete an application form as soon as possible. forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=RuNk9vvW5UOFuowECBAjVQ7Ff2umiLFJoQAsNeWvuBpUNlhVMElRTFhQVzUxV1gxTzlKSU45TFE5Ti4u.