Biomethane Development Office

The Biomethane Development Office (BDO) is a key initiative under the "Biomethane for Carbon and Community" (BCC) project, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the EU Just Transition Fund (2021-2027). The BCC project is a collaborative project involving Tipperary County Council and its partners, the Technological University of the Shannon, the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation and the Tipperary Energy Agency. Located at the National Bioeconomy Campus in Lisheen, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, the BDO aims to drive biomethane development and decarbonisation efforts across Ireland, particularly in the Tipperary Decarbonising Zone (DZ) and the broader Just Transition Fund region. As identified in the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report, this BDO would act as an independent resource to support and enable communities, enterprises and the agricultural sector to develop economically feasible biomethane projects. Its primary objectives include conducting feasibility studies, building a strong communication and capacity-building campaign, and collaborating with stakeholders like DAFM and Teagasc to promote sustainable farming practices compatible with biomethane production and climate action. Additionally, the BDO explores community and cooperative ownership models to empower local stakeholders in the transition to renewable energy. A key milestone for the BDO is to identify a site for a biomethane facility at Lisheen, which could attract private-sector investment and create local jobs. With a potential investment of €10-15 million, the facility would produce 40GWh of energy and support 250-300 local farmers and biomass suppliers. In the short term, the BDO will create six direct jobs, with future phases expected to generate 16 indirect jobs through the development of new biomethane infrastructure. The BDO and BCC are crucial to positioning Ireland as a leader in biomethane development, decarbonization, and community-focused energy solutions.