The Future of Renewable Gas in Ireland's Energy Mix

As Ireland commits to ambitious climate targets, including a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, the gas industry is undergoing a profound transformation. Renewable gas technologies are emerging as critical components in Ireland's sustainable energy future, offering pathways to decarbonize sectors that are difficult to electrify. This article explores the growing role of renewable gas in Ireland's energy transition and what it means for businesses and consumers.

The Current Gas Landscape in Ireland

Natural gas currently plays a significant role in Ireland's energy mix:

• Approximately 700,000 homes and 25,000 businesses connected to the gas network
• Natural gas accounts for about 30% of Ireland's primary energy supply
• Gas provides roughly 50% of Ireland's electricity generation
• The national gas network extends over 14,500 km across the country

While natural gas produces fewer emissions than coal or oil, it remains a fossil fuel with significant carbon content. To meet climate goals, Ireland must transition to renewable alternatives.

1. Biomethane: Ireland's Homegrown Renewable Gas

Biomethane, a renewable gas produced from organic waste, is gaining momentum as a key component of Ireland's sustainable energy portfolio.

Production Process and Sources

Biomethane is created through a two-stage process:

1. Anaerobic digestion: Organic materials decompose in an oxygen-free environment, producing biogas (a mixture of methane, CO2, and trace gases)
2. Upgrading: The biogas is purified to remove CO2 and other impurities, creating biomethane that matches natural gas quality standards

Ireland has abundant potential feedstocks for biomethane production:

• Agricultural residues and livestock manure
• Food processing waste
• Municipal organic waste
• Purpose-grown energy crops (with sustainability safeguards)

Current Development Status

Ireland's biomethane sector is still in its early stages but growing rapidly:

• Several commercial-scale plants now operating across the country
• First grid injection point established in 2019 in Cush, Co. Kildare
• Industry roadmap targeting 20% of Ireland's gas supply from biomethane by 2030
• Recent government support through the Renewable Heat Obligation scheme

Benefits Beyond Carbon Reduction

Biomethane offers multiple benefits beyond decarbonization:

• Circular economy: Transforms waste into energy and nutrient-rich digestate
• Rural development: Creates new income streams for the agricultural sector
• Energy security: Provides locally-produced renewable energy
• Infrastructure compatibility: Uses existing gas networks and appliances without modification
• Waste management: Reduces landfill waste and associated methane emissions

2. Hydrogen: The Versatile Energy Carrier

Hydrogen is emerging as a crucial element in Ireland's decarbonization strategy, offering flexibility across multiple sectors.

Production Pathways

Several hydrogen production methods are relevant to Ireland's energy transition:

• Green hydrogen: Produced using renewable electricity (primarily wind in Ireland) to split water through electrolysis
• Blue hydrogen: Produced from natural gas with carbon capture and storage (CCS)
• Turquoise hydrogen: Created through methane pyrolysis, producing solid carbon rather than CO2

Ireland's abundant wind resources make green hydrogen particularly promising, especially with the planned expansion of offshore wind capacity to 5GW by 2030.

Gas Network Integration

Hydrogen can be integrated into Ireland's gas infrastructure in several ways:

• Blending: Adding hydrogen to the natural gas network (studies indicate up to 20% is feasible with minimal modifications)
• Dedicated hydrogen networks: Converting sections of the existing gas network to 100% hydrogen
• Hydrogen clusters: Developing concentrated hydrogen ecosystems around industrial centers or ports

Current Projects and Initiatives

Several hydrogen initiatives are underway in Ireland:

• Hydrogen Backbone: Gas Networks Ireland is developing plans for a national hydrogen backbone infrastructure
• Dublin Hydrogen Hub: A planned facility to produce green hydrogen for transport and industrial use
• ESB Green Atlantic: Repurposing Moneypoint power station for green hydrogen production
• Hydrogen blending trials: Testing hydrogen blends in isolated sections of the gas network

3. Synthetic Methane: Bridging Technologies

Synthetic methane (also called e-methane or power-to-gas) represents another pathway for renewable gas in Ireland:

• Produced by combining green hydrogen with captured CO2 through methanation
• Creates a carbon-neutral methane that's identical to natural gas
• Allows complete compatibility with existing gas infrastructure and appliances
• Offers a means of seasonal energy storage from intermittent renewables

While currently at an earlier stage of development than biomethane or hydrogen, synthetic methane could play a valuable role in Ireland's energy system, particularly as a seasonal storage solution for excess renewable electricity.

4. Policy Framework and Support Mechanisms

Ireland is developing a supportive policy framework for renewable gas:

Current Support Measures

• Renewable Heat Obligation: Requires suppliers to include a percentage of renewable gas in their energy sales
• Climate Action Fund: Provides capital support for renewable gas projects
• Gas certification scheme: Tracking the origin and sustainability of renewable gas
• Support scheme for Renewable Heat: Provides operational support for renewable heating technologies

Emerging Policy Developments

Several new initiatives are under development:

• Dedicated biomethane support scheme expected in 2023
• National Hydrogen Strategy to be published in mid-2023
• Carbon tax increases making renewable gas more competitive
• Planning and permitting streamlining for renewable gas facilities

5. Challenges and Barriers

Despite its promise, renewable gas faces several challenges in Ireland:

Economic Challenges

• Higher production costs compared to natural gas (though this gap is narrowing)
• Significant upfront capital investment requirements
• Need for long-term policy certainty to attract investment
• Competition with other renewable technologies for support

Technical and Infrastructure Barriers

• Limited grid injection points for biomethane
• Need for appliance certification and potential modifications for hydrogen use
• Skills gaps in the workforce for new technologies
• Coordination challenges between electricity and gas systems

Sustainability Considerations

• Ensuring biomethane feedstocks don't compete with food production
• Developing robust sustainability criteria and certification
• Managing environmental impacts of production facilities

6. Implications for Irish Homes and Businesses

The transition to renewable gas will have several implications for gas users:

For Homeowners

• Gradually increasing renewable content in gas supply without requiring appliance changes (for biomethane and synthetic methane)
• Future hydrogen-ready appliances becoming standard in the market
• Potential for local community biomethane initiatives
• New tariff options for renewable gas

For Businesses

• Opportunities to reduce carbon footprint through renewable gas procurement
• Potential for on-site biogas production from waste streams
• New markets for agricultural and food processing by-products
• Strategic advantage from early adoption of renewable gas technologies

7. The Path Forward: A Balanced Energy Mix

Renewable gas will be part of a diverse, integrated clean energy system for Ireland:

• Complementing electrification rather than competing with it
• Providing solutions for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like high-temperature industrial processes
• Offering seasonal energy storage capabilities
• Supporting grid stability as variable renewable electricity generation increases
• Utilizing existing infrastructure to reduce transition costs

Conclusion

Renewable gas technologies—biomethane, hydrogen, and synthetic methane—are set to play a crucial role in Ireland's transition to a carbon-neutral economy. By leveraging existing gas infrastructure while dramatically reducing emissions, these technologies offer a pragmatic pathway to decarbonization.

While challenges remain, the momentum behind renewable gas is building rapidly, supported by strengthening policy frameworks, technological advances, and growing market demand for sustainable energy solutions.

At Segreinter, we're committed to supporting this transition by ensuring gas systems are future-ready and by helping our customers understand and adapt to these evolving technologies. Our engineers are already developing expertise in hydrogen-compatible installations and biomethane connection solutions, positioning us at the forefront of Ireland's renewable gas revolution.