Gas Networks Ireland has officially commenced construction of a €32 million Central Grid Injection (CGI) facility in Mitchelstown, marking a significant step towards renewable energy in the country. The facility is designed to serve as an injection point for biomethane production sites that may be located far from existing gas networks.
This initiative is seen as transformative for Ireland’s energy landscape, enabling the integration of renewable biomethane into the national gas grid. The Cork-based facility is projected to inject up to 700 GWh of renewable biomethane gas annually, contributing approximately 12% towards the Government’s biomethane target for 2030. Additionally, it is expected to reduce national CO₂ emissions by around 130,000 tonnes each year, solidifying its role in Ireland’s sustainable energy infrastructure.
Biomethane, produced from the breakdown of organic materials such as agricultural feedstock, offers farming families and the agricultural sector a new revenue stream. The development of the CGI facility follows a market engagement exercise by Gas Networks Ireland earlier this year, which drew interest from 22 prospective biomethane producers in response to a request for expressions of interest.
Cathal Marley, CEO of Gas Networks Ireland, emphasized the strong interest in the project, stating, “The substantial response demonstrates the growing momentum behind Ireland’s biomethane industry. The 1,862 GWh of potential production from just 22 interested producers showcases the significant capacity of this sector to meet, and possibly exceed, our renewable biomethane gas targets.”
The Mitchelstown CGI facility is a crucial element of Ireland’s vision for a net-zero carbon gas network by 2045. The project is being realized through collaboration with key partners, including Fingleton White, responsible for design, and Murphy International, serving as the construction contractor. The commissioning of the facility’s first phase is anticipated towards the end of 2025.
This development is part of the broader Green Renewable Agricultural Zero Emissions (GRAZE) project, which aims to establish large-scale agricultural biomethane clusters that can be replicated throughout the country. The project has received €8.4 million in funding from the Climate Action Fund, further underscoring its significance.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin attended the sod-turning ceremony, calling the CGI facility a “significant development in Ireland’s energy infrastructure.” He noted that the project aligns with the government’s commitment to achieve its biomethane production targets by 2030 and supports the broader goal of attaining net-zero emissions by 2050. “This facility also represents a pivotal opportunity for our agricultural industry,” Martin added, highlighting its potential impact on the sector.
