GRAZE Gas Project and Mitchelstown Central Grid Injection Facility
Building Ireland’s Renewable Gas Future
The Tánaiste Micheál Martin broke ground to officially mark the commencement of construction for the new Central Grid Injection (CGI) facility in Mitchelstown. A key initiative of Gas Networks Ireland, this facility represents a €32m investment and is a transformative step in Ireland’s transition towards renewable energy, enabling the injection of biomethane into the national gas network.
When fully operational, the facility has the design capacity to inject up to 700 GWh of renewable gas into the gas network per annum, reducing emissions by circa 130,000 tonnes of CO₂ per annum when using 100% biomethane. This would help deliver 12% of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan biomethane production target of 5.7 TWh by 2030.
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GRAZE Gas Project
The GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural Zero Emissions) Gas Project is led by Gas Networks Ireland and is supported by more than €8.4m in funding from the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications’ (DECC) Climate Action Fund, as part of the Government’s national energy security framework. The purpose of the project will be to show how Ireland can diversify its gas supplies, by speeding up the roll-out of renewable gases like biomethane.
Project deliverables
- Development of a central grid injection (CGI) facility near Mitchelstown in Co. Cork
- Transportation of renewable gas from anaerobic digestors to the CGI facility
- Two compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations
- Vehicle fund for compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks
Mitchelstown CGI
The Mitchelstown CGI will facilitate the injection of biomethane into Ireland’s transmission network. Biomethane is a carbon neutral renewable gas produced from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion and has already begun to seamlessly replace natural gas in the national network.
It is fully compatible with the existing national gas network, appliances, technologies and vehicles, and will ultimately replace natural gas to reduce emissions in heating, industry, transport and power generation, while also supporting the decarbonisation of the agri-food sector.
Progress to date
- Planning permission for Ireland’s second central grid injection facility was granted by An Bord Pleanála and Cork County Council in December 2020.
- The detailed design phase and equipment procurement for the modular build facility is currently ongoing.
- Construction of the CGI was officially commenced by the Tanaiste Micheal Martin on Friday, October 25th, with commissioning and opening expected towards the end of 2025.
Benefits of the GRAZE project
An indigenous renewable gas industry in Ireland would support numerous Irish and European climate policy targets and initiatives. In addition to addressing Ireland’s security of supply, the GRAZE project and others like it will also provide significant opportunities and benefits for rural communities and difficult to decarbonise sectors of the Irish economy.
- When operating at full capacity, the Mitchelstown CGI will have the potential to inject up to 700 GWh of renewable biomethane into the gas network, contributing approximately 12% of the Government’s 2030 biomethane target
- Once fully operational, the CGI facility will also result in a saving of 130,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum. Anaerobic digestion is also a key technology that can support the reduction of methane emissions arising from natural decomposition of wastes and residues, as noted in the recent EU Methane Strategy*
- The new facility will have the capacity to receive renewable gas produced from farm and food waste from approximately 20 local producers.
- In addition to reducing on-farm emissions and supporting more sustainable supply chains, the establishment of a sustainable renewable gas industry in the region would also provide significant opportunities for the local community from the sale of biomethane, feedstock used to produce the renewable gas, and a bio-fertiliser that is a by-product of the process, and facilitate sustainable circular economies, with businesses powering their operations via renewable gas made from their own waste.
- Digestate outputted from the AD process can be used as a replacement to conventional fertilisers on farms. Correct application of digestate derived bio-fertiliser does not have the level of run-off and emissions associated with raw animal slurry use and is one of the enablers for enhancing carbon stocks in soils.
Biomethane Producers - Expressions of interest
The Mitchelstown CGI will play a key role in establishing an indigenous renewable gas industry in Ireland and will support numerous Irish climate policy targets and initiatives.
Gas Networks Ireland is inviting current and prospective biomethane producers that wish to inject renewable gas into the Mitchelstown central grid injection facility to register their interest before close of business on Friday, July 12th, 2024.
When fully operational, the facility has the design capacity to inject up to 700 GWh of renewable gas into the gas network per annum, reducing emissions by c. 130,000 tonnes of CO₂ per annum when using 100% biomethane. This would deliver 12% of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan biomethane production target of 5.7 TWh by 2030, which is over 1% of current total gas demand.
Register your interestGlossary
Biomethane is a carbon-neutral renewable gas. Biogas is initially produced from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion where the greenhouse gases created by agricultural and food waste emissions are captured and converted into energy. To be injected into the gas network, this biogas can must be upgraded to biomethane and meet the quality standards as required by Gas Networks Ireland.
The material that is used in anaerobic digestion is called feedstock. This can include animal slurries and crop residues. What goes into a digester determines what comes out, so careful choice of feedstocks is essential. Securing a reliable feedstock supply is fundamental to profitable anaerobic digestion.
Digestate is the material remaining after the anaerobic digestion of feedstock. Digestate can be applied as a bio-fertiliser to grass and tillage lands as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertiliser application, offsetting carbon emissions from conventional fertilisers.
Government support
To support delivery of the GRAZE project, Gas Networks Ireland have received over €8.4 million in funding under the Climate Action Fund, which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
The purpose of the project will be to show how Ireland can diversify its gas supplies, by speeding up the roll-out of renewable gases like biomethane. Projects such as this will reduce our reliance on imported fossil fuels. The Government’s National Energy Security Framework, which sets out how Ireland is prepared to deal with potential shocks to our energy system, has highlighted the need for alternatives to natural gas, such as biomethane and hydrogen, to be developed to enhance Ireland’s security of supply and provide additional diversification for Ireland’s energy mix.
This new facility in Mitchelstown and our existing facility in Cush, County Kildare will contribute to our broader climate goals – of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
*https://energy.ec.europa.eu/documents_en
Contact us
To learn more about the GRAZE Gas Project and Mitchelstown central grid injection facility, please contact us at renewablegas@gasnetworks.ie