Farmers in Kerry could help end Ireland's reliance on imported natural gas with biomethane

Biomethane from farm waste could reduce Ireland's dependence on imported natural gas, according to Richard Kennedy, CEO of Carbon AMS, which is developing the country's first agricultural biomethane plant. The Climate Change Advisory Council has urged faster implementation of the National Biomethane Strategy to boost energy security and cut emissions. Biomethane is produced from organic materials like manure, food scraps, and sewage. It can be used for heat, electricity, or injected into the gas grid. Unlike fossil fuels, it returns recent carbon to the atmosphere, making it a low-carbon alternative. Kennedy notes that other European countries are scaling up indigenous biomethane production while Ireland lags behind. The article highlights the potential for farmers in Kerry to diversify income while supporting energy independence. However, details on feedstock supply, plant scale, and grid integration costs remain unclear, which will determine whether this becomes a practical solution or stays a pilot project.