Payments to successful projects under the 2024 Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme are commencing this week.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said payments worth almost €19 million are expected to begin issuing today (Wednesday, July 15).

This scheme helps with the development of the biomethane sector by providing a grant to aid capital investment for the construction of new biomethane plants and upgrades to existing biogas plants.

20% of total capital investment costs per applicant will be payable to the successful projects subject to a maximum level of funding of €5 million per project.

Capital support

Minister Heydon said this funding is being drawn down through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

"Since the publication of the biomethane strategy, government has recognised that capital support was needed to kickstart the industry and I am delighted to be able to deliver on this support with these payments," the minister said.

"All applications and supporting documentation have been evaluated with payments now being issued."

Minister Heydon said that from an agricultural perspective, there are "clear benefits" to developing the biomethane sector in Ireland in terms of contributing to the delivery of renewable energy targets.

"Biomethane also represents a pathway for farmers to diversify income streams," the minister added.

"I am keen to see the industry grow and as a result provide opportunities and benefits to the agriculture sector."

The successful applicants under the first round of this scheme are outlined in the table below.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien said today's announcement "marks an important milestone" in the delivery of Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy.

"These grants demonstrate the government’s commitment to supporting delivery of Ireland’s target of up to 5.7 terawatt hours (TWh) of indigenously-produced biomethane annually," Minister O'Brien said.

"Biomethane will play a vital role in the decarbonisation of Ireland’s built environment, industrial activities, and transport sector."

Second round

Minister O’Brien also confirmed that a further €200 million, secured through the National Development Plan process, will support a second round of capital grants for anaerobic digestion plants.

"This funding programme is expected to open later in 2026 and will continue through to 2030," the minister said. 

"Together, these investments will help deliver a cleaner, more secure and more sustainable energy system for generations to come."

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine partnered with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland to provide technical expertise and to oversee the administration of the scheme for this round.