Biomethane produced through anaerobic digestion (AD) in Co. Meath forms part of a major new renewable gas deal.

Flogas, part of DCC Energy plc., has signed the gas deal with College Group, a bio-waste management entity, forming part of Flogas’ Gas Purchase Agreement (GPA) strategy.

This is a strategy to support the growth of indigenous biomethane production and accelerate transport sector decarbonisation across the island of Ireland.

Under the agreement, Flogas will offtake 26GWh of renewable biomethane annually.

The aim is to support increased availability of indigenous energy while contributing to Ireland’s 'net zero' ambitions and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.

By securing a dedicated supply of Irish‑produced biomethane, Flogas has said that this agreement ensures it can provide transport customers with a reliable, home‑grown renewable fuel.

It supports the company's long‑term strategy to shield Irish hauliers from fossil‑fuel price volatility, cut emissions across the sector, and drive the development of a resilient circular economy in Ireland.

Biomethane in Meath

The off-take agreement will see biomethane produced through the AD of animal by-products and agri-food waste at College Group’s Nobber, Co. Meath facility.

The site has a total production capacity of 75GWh per year, with the renewable gas primarily supporting decarbonisation of the Irish transport sector.

The supply is expected to deliver annual carbon savings of approximately 6,637t of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which is equivalent to removing around 114 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) from Irish roads for a year.

This new agreement builds on a long-standing relationship between the two companies, with Flogas having supplied natural gas services to College Group for more than 20 years.

Flogas is also currently supporting the company through an Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) project targeting energy savings of 15GWh.

Services and Renewables director at Flogas, Barry Murphy said: “This partnership with College Group marks a key milestone in the delivery of our Gas Purchase Agreement (GPA) strategy to expand Ireland’s indigenous renewable gas infrastructure.

"Working with an established partner such as College Group allows us to turn locally produced renewable gas into a practical, scalable solution for lowering emissions in the transport sector and building a more secure, low-carbon energy system for Ireland which is crucial.”

Commercial director at College Group, John Paul Gilroy, added: “This partnership with Flogas reflects the strength of our long-term collaboration and our shared commitment to investing in indigenous energy infrastructure in Ireland.

"It also reinforces our strategy of maximising the value of our production capability while supporting Ireland’s net zero ambitions and advancing the circular economy through the transformation of waste streams into renewable energy.”

Renewable energy

Flogas is said to be also exploring further opportunities to expand its renewable gas supply sources.

This includes ongoing discussions with a food producer in Northern Ireland regarding a potential long-term supply agreement with the biomethane sourced from the College Proteins facility.

This forms part of the company’s wider strategy to scale indigenous biomethane supply across the island of Ireland and support future decarbonisation needs as the market continues to develop.

Flogas is also continuing to expand its portfolio of renewable gas partnerships through biomethane off-take agreements such as the recent landmark off-take agreement with Nephin.