Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, has opened an Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the Government's €200 million Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme, a key step towards expanding Ireland's biomethane industry.

Funding for a second round of capital grants has been secured through the updated National Development Plan, supporting progress towards Ireland's target of up to 5.7 terawatt-hours (TWh) of domestically produced biomethane.

The EOI invites prospective developers to submit details of projects that may qualify for support. Responses will help the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment assess the scale and readiness of the pipeline and shape the design of the first funding call.

-- Advertisement --

Announcing the move, Minister O'Brien said: "The opening of this Expression of Interest process is an important milestone in delivering Ireland's National Biomethane Strategy.

"With €200 million secured through the National Development Plan, we are now taking the next step towards bringing more biomethane projects into development and building a strong pipeline for future growth.

"Biomethane has an important role to play in strengthening our energy security, reducing emissions and creating new opportunities for farmers and rural communities. I encourage prospective developers to engage with this process as we continue to grow Ireland's biomethane sector."

Momentum is already building in the sector, with seven anaerobic digestion plants recently completed or under construction.

Following consideration of EOI submissions, the department plans to open the formal application process. The Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme will run through multiple funding rounds between 2026 and 2030.

The EOI portal is open now and will close at 5pm on Friday, 30 October 2026. Further details are available at: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/biomethane-capital-grant-scheme-expression-of-interest-eoi/