EU biomethane potential twenty times Ireland’s gas demand as Gas Networks Ireland leads on major study
Gas Networks Ireland’s role in biomethane took centre stage in Brussels on Wednesday, as Padraig Fleming, Biomethane Programme Manager with Ireland’s national gas utility and co-chair of the Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) Biomethane Working Group, presented an EU wide study on the role of biomethane in decarbonising the European energy system.
Commissioned by GIE and conducted by energy consultancy firm Common Futures, the study, entitled “Using gas infrastructure for biomethane”, demonstrates the vital role that Europe’s existing gas infrastructure—pipelines and underground storage—will play in scaling up biomethane, a renewable gas derived from organic waste, to help meet the EU’s climate goals while maintaining energy security. The study projects up to 101 billion cubic metres of biomethane production across the EU by 2040—equivalent to 20 times Ireland’s annual gas demand—with 98% expected to be injected into gas grids. It concludes that reusing existing gas pipelines and infrastructure will be essential to connect biomethane supply—often in rural areas— with demand centres in towns and cities, while also balancing seasonal demand peaks.
Gas Networks Ireland’s Padraig Fleming presented the study’s findings and moderated a panel discussion featuring senior EU policymakers and energy leaders at the GIE Biomethane Study Launch in Brussels, said:
“This study confirms what we in Ireland have long believed—that biomethane is not only key for decarbonisation, but also an opportunity to revitalise rural economies, strengthen our energy independence and make use of the infrastructure we already have - Ireland’s €3bn, 14,725km national gas network, which is considered one of the safest and most modern renewables-ready gas networks in Europe. “Biomethane offers a homegrown, sustai able energy source that can strengthen energy security, boost energy sovereignty and deliver significant emissions reductions, parti ularly in agriculture and heating. Raising awareness of biomethane’s environmental and economic benefits within rural and farming communities will be vital to building support and accelerating adoption. At Gas Networks Ireland, we’re proud to be driving the biomethane agenda forward both nationally and at EU level.
“To fully unlock biomethane’s potential, we must address a number of key barriers. This includes establishing a level playing field for biomethane among renewable energy sources, with long-term support schemes and regulatory stability. We also need an EU-wide certification scheme for cross-border renewable gas trade and a fair regulatory framework for renewable gas technologies and conections.”
Daan Peters, Managing Director of Common Futures, the energy consultancy behind the study, said:
“Our analysis shows that Europe’s existing gas infrastructure is a valuable asset that can significantly accelerate the integration of biomethane. By reusing pipelines and storage facilities we can scale up biomethane production efficiently and cost-effectively, connecting rural supply with urban demand. This will deliver immediate emissions reductions and enhance energy resilience through locally produced, sustainable energy—benefitingncommunities and the agricultural sector alike.”
As Ireland accelerates towards its net zero target by 2050, Gas Networks Ireland is working to transform the national gas network to operate on 100% renewable gases by 2045—through a mix of 30% biomethane and 70% green hydrogen. The organisation’s “Pathway to a Net Zero Carbon Network”, launched in 2024, sets out a phased roadmap for this transition. Biomethane is already making an impact. With Europe’s highest per capita potential for biomethane production, Ireland is targeting 5.7 TWh by 2030. In 2024 Gas Networks Ireland broke ground on a €32 million Central Grid Injection (CGI) facility in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork—marking a major milestone in enabling renewable gas to be injected directly into the national gas network.
About Gas Networks Ireland
Gas Networks Ireland operates and maintains Ireland’s €3bn, 14,725km national gas network, which is considered one of the safest and most modern renewables-ready gas networks in Europe. Almost 725,000 Irish homes and businesses trust Ireland’s gas network to provide efficient and reliable energy to meet their heating, cooking, manufacturing and transport needs. The gas network is the cornerstone of Ireland’s energy system, securely supplying more than 30% of Ireland’s total energy and almost 50% of the country’s electricity generation.
Gas Networks Ireland is aiming to deliver a repurposed, resized and fully decarbonised gas network by 2045. Its “Pathway to a Net Zero Carbon Network” envisions transforming the existing gas network into two separate systems carrying 100% renewable gas, one dedicated to biomethane and the other to green hydrogen, with the potential to carry approximately 30% biomethane and 70% green hydrogen, as well as offering significant long term energy export opportunities.
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