Gas Networks Ireland Signs Deal to Link €80m Cork Biomethane Plant to National Grid. Stream BioEnergy facility set to become State’s largest using food and green waste, with operations due in 2027.
Gas Networks Ireland has agreed to connect a new €80 million biomethane facility in Co Cork to the national gas grid, marking a further expansion of Ireland’s renewable gas infrastructure and circular economy ambitions.
The project, being developed by Stream BioEnergy at Little Island, is currently under construction and is expected to begin operations in 2027.
“Biomethane has a vital role to play in supporting Ireland’s transition to a lower-carbon energy system”
Once operational, it will process approximately 90,000 tonnes of domestic and commercial food and garden waste each year and generate around 80 GWh of renewable biomethane annually. This output is expected to meet the heating needs of about 6,000 homes.
Renewable gas
Announcing the agreement at the All-Island Bioeconomy Summit in Co Meath, Karen Doyle, Head of Business Development at Gas Networks Ireland, said the partnership reflects the growing role of biomethane in the national energy mix.
“This agreement with Stream BioEnergy marks another important milestone in the development of Ireland’s renewable gas sector,” she said. “Biomethane has a vital role to play in supporting Ireland’s transition to a lower-carbon energy system while also delivering sustainable solutions for organic waste management.
“Connecting facilities such as this to the national gas network demonstrates how existing infrastructure can support Ireland’s climate action targets, energy security and circular economy ambitions.”
The Little Island facility is set to become the largest biomethane plant in Ireland using mixed food and garden waste. It will rely on anaerobic digestion technology to convert organic waste into renewable gas, which will then be injected directly into the national grid.
Stream BioEnergy said the development will contribute to reducing Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels and imported fertilisers while offering a scalable approach to organic waste management. The plant is also expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, broadly equivalent to taking 17,000 cars off the road.
Morgan Burke, Chief Operating Officer of Stream BioEnergy, said the agreement represented a key step forward for the company and the broader sector.
“Renewable gas can play a central role in reducing our emissions, and this agreement with Gas Networks Ireland marks a significant milestone for both companies and for the development of Ireland’s biomethane sector,” he said.
“Our project in Little Island will provide for the sustainable management of organic waste, enhance energy security, and contribute to energy transition and decarbonisation targets in a meaningful way.”
The deal adds to a growing pipeline of biomethane projects being integrated into Ireland’s gas infrastructure. Gas Networks Ireland confirmed that the Stream BioEnergy facility is the seventh biomethane production plant contracted for connection to the network in the past three years, with additional agreements at an advanced stage of negotiation.
Industry observers view the expansion of biomethane capacity as a key component of Ireland’s strategy to meet climate targets while leveraging existing gas infrastructure to deliver renewable energy at scale.
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