Ireland launches Biomethane Environmental Sustainability Charter

In Ireland, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon have announced the publication of the Biomethane Environmental Sustainability Charter. The government remains committed to supporting the development of a biomethane sector of scale in Ireland. The development of a Biomethane Sustainability Charter as part of the National Biomethane Strategy is key to ensuring the successful roll-out of an agri-led biomethane industry, and to mitigate against any unintended or negative environmental consequences.

Developed in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the Charter compliments and builds on existing regulatory or legal obligations and sets out best practice guidelines to maximise the benefits of anaerobic digestion, while minimizing its environmental impact on land use, water quality, biodiversity, and ensuring a high health and safety standard within the sector.

Developed in consultation with key stakeholders, and overseen by the Biomethane Implementation Group, the Charter will apply to biomethane projects being developed in Ireland and in receipt of any form of public funded support, including a national anaerobic digestion (AD)/biomethane support scheme. The Charter outlines the scope and vision for the biomethane sector, and best practices that participants in the industry should commit and adhere to during plant design, construction and operational phases of production.