Gas Networks Ireland is supporting a new biomethane pilot with the Malting Company of Ireland and Ahascragh Distillery, aiming to help large energy users decarbonise their operations.

The programme provides a real-world example for Irish manufacturers that depend on high-temperature heat, outlining how they can meaningfully cut emissions where electrification is difficult.

Under the initiative, the Malting Company of Ireland is using certified biomethane in a pilot malting run at its Cork site. The resulting malt is then supplied to Galway-based Ahascragh Distillery, recognised as Ireland's first eco-distillery, to be used in whiskey production.

Operating since 1858, the Malting Company of Ireland supplies wholegrain products to the Irish distilling and brewing industries and also exports internationally.

Gas is required during the kilning phase—when heated air dries the grain—which demands very high, consistent heat and is the most energy-intensive stage of malting. Switching this step to biomethane can significantly reduce the operation's carbon impact without altering existing equipment.

Facilitated by Gas Networks Ireland, the pilot illustrates how renewable gas can help industry cut emissions while continuing to rely on existing infrastructure and processes.

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High-temperature activities such as malting and kilning need a dependable, intense heat source and are often challenging to electrify. Biomethane offers a practical lower‑carbon, drop‑in alternative that can be used within current gas systems with minimal operational change.

Jennifer Harte, Head of Customer and Communications at Gas Networks Ireland, said: "Reducing emissions in industries that rely on high-heat processing is a challenge for our customers. This initiative demonstrates the important role renewable that biomethane gas can play in supporting important Irish industries, like the food and beverage sector, to continue to produce high quality products, while reducing their carbon footprint.

"At Gas Networks Ireland, we work closely with our large customers to help them explore practical decarbonisation solutions that support competitiveness, sustainability and long-term energy security."

Paul McGillicuddy, CEO of Malting Company of Ireland, said: "We have been malting barley since 1858, and sustainability is critically important to the future of our business. The source of our energy matters enormously, particularly for a heat-intensive process like malting.

"What has been particularly encouraging about this biomethane initiative is that we are able to continue operating using the same process and equipment. It demonstrates the real potential renewable gas has to help industries like ours reduce emissions in a practical way."

Gareth McAllister, Co-Founder of Ahascragh Distillery, said: "At Ahascragh Distillery, sustainability is central to how we operate. We are already powered entirely by renewable energy, so naturally we want to reduce emissions across our supply chain too.

"This collaboration helps reduce the Scope 3 emissions associated with the malt we use in our distilling process and shows the positive impact businesses can achieve when working together."

Gas Networks Ireland says it is committed to increasing the volume of biomethane on its network and is working with a broad range of stakeholders to deliver cleaner, more secure and more sustainable energy nationally.

Over the past three years, the company has secured agreements with seven biomethane production plants to be contracted to connect to the national gas network, with further contracts in advanced discussions.