RGFI – Ireland Biomethane Conference 9th and 10th November 2022

“Ireland has the highest potential for biomethane production per capita in the EU according to the European Commission, providing a strong opportunity to develop a thriving indigenous biomethane industry, support energy security and, importantly for Irish farmers, to diversify and reduce agricultural sector emissions”.

DAY 1 SEMINARS, 9 NOVEMBER

09:00    Registration

09:45    Welcome

JP Prendergast, Chair, RGFI

Damien O’Reilly, journalist

10:05   Session 1: Biomethane in Europe / RePowerEU

EU Commission, DG Energy – TBC

Harmen Dekker, CEO, European Biogas Association, (also joint Secretariat for EU Biomethane Industrial Partnership)

PJ McCarthy, CEO, RGFI

10:35    Session 2: Ireland – Funding AD Biomethane Development

Nick Ashmore, CEO, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund

Russell Smyth, Director, KPMG Sustainable Futures

Lorcan Allen, Business Editor, Business Post

11:25 Coffee break

11:45   Session 3:  The Journey to Green Fuels – industry decarbonisation

Paul Murphy, Climate Action Solutions Lead, Climeaction

Tom O’Brien, CEO, Nephin Energy

Brendan O’Riordan, Green Gas Certification Lead, Gas Networks Ireland

Milenko Matosic, Senior Expert Renewable Gases, German Energy Agency (DENA)

Calor

12:30    Lunch

13:30   Session 4: Agriculture & AD Biomethane 

Opening address from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue

Jorge Pinto Antunes, Deputy Head of DG Agri Cabinet, EU Commission 

Dr Paul Crosson, Beef Enterprise Leader and Principal Research Scientist, Teagasc

Mike Magan, Dairy Farmer and Chair of National Fodder and Food Security Committee

Tadgh Buckley, Director of Policy / Chief Economist, IFA

James McLenaghan, Farmer

Stephen Robb, Renewables Editor, Irish Farmers Journal – moderator

14:45  Session 5: Transport Opportunity for Ireland – panel discussion 

Anna Venturini, Transport Policy Specialist, European Biogas Association 

John Pakenham, Director, Vision Green

Darren Carty, Director, Sustainable Flight Solutions Ltd

15:40  Session 6: Climate Action, Bioeconomy Collaboration and Opportunities – panel discussion 

Marc R. Pacheco, Dean, MA State Senate

Patrick Barrett, National Bioeconomy Forum

Dr James McGreer, Chair, EBA Biogenic CO2 working group, and RGFI Board

JP Prendergast, Chair, BioWill, and Chair RGFI 

Dr Stephen Nolan, Renewable Energy Systems specialist, Optimisation of Anaerobic Digestion 

16:40  Closing remarks

Dr Anne Marie Henihan, Centre Director, Irish Dairy Processing Technology Centre (DPTC)(Limerick) and RGFI Board

18:30 Drinks Reception and Dinner

Pre-dinner speaker, Marc R. Pacheco, Dean, MA State Senate

Senator Marc Pacheco recently launched the Transatlantic Alliance for Climate Action and was responsible for the Global Warming Solutions Act. Senator Pacheco (who has strong Irish connections) is currently serving as the Dean of the Massachusetts Senate and is the founding chair of the standing Senate Committee on global warming and climate change.

DAY 2 WORKSHOP, 10 NOVEMBER

Theme: Ireland’s Biomethane Strategy and input to the Biomethane Industry Partnership supporting the REPowerEU 35bcm 2030 biomethane target.

Outputs:

Strategic advice to inform the National Biomethane Strategy.

Updated Ireland Biomethane Roadmap.

2023/24 proposed programme of events, activities, projects.

Workshop session 1 & 2 will open with a short overview presentation, followed by roundtable discussion and feedback on opportunities, issues to resolve, proposed activity for 23/24. Coffee available from 10:00

09:00 Welcome. Workshop purpose and format. Introduction to the role and operation of the Biomethane Industry Partnership   

09:15  Session 1: National targets and accelerating project development – planning, technology mobilisation

Are our national targets fit for purpose and achievable and how do we accelerate  biomethane project development?

Discussion, feedback, Q&A

10:45 Session 2: Research and innovation – sustainable feedstock, valorisation. Skills development

What are the research, development, innovation and skills needs ? What are the sustainable potentials for innovative biomass sources in Ireland? What are the opportunities to valorise and contribute to the bio economy? (Cost efficiency of biomethane production and grid connection)

Discussion, Feedback and Q&A

 12:15   Closing remarks

For the full programme and updates please click here