This Mayo Plant Deal Could Shake Up the Biomethane Market—Here’s Why Nephin and Flogas Just Changed Everything!

Ever wondered if cow manure could actually power your home? Sounds a bit wild, right? But here we are—Nephin and Flogas are shaking up the energy scene with a game-changing biomethane offtake deal, right on the turf of Mayo, Ireland’s new hot spot for the largest agri-based biomethane plant yet. This isn’t just about turning farm waste into energy; it’s about rewriting the rulebook on how we tackle emissions deep where it counts—in our heating, transport, and industrial sectors. Imagine swapping out fossil fuels for something cleaner, greener, and born from what we usually toss aside. With Flogas locking in as the partner for renewable gas from not one, but three anaerobic digestion sites, we’re talking over 250 gigawatt-hours of biomethane each year—that’s enough juice to heat 33,000 homes! The Ballinrobe facility alone is slated to kick things off in 2027, promising a tidal wave of economic benefits and hundreds of jobs. This alliance isn’t merely a business contract—it’s a bold stride towards Ireland’s net-zero goals and a testament to how savvy partnerships can fuel local economies while fighting climate change head-on. Ready to dive deeper into this revolutionary energy pivot? LEARN MORE

Nephin and Flogas have signed a biomethane offtake agreement after breaking ground on Ireland’s largest agri-based biomethane plant in Mayo.

Biomethane is a renewable gas that can replace natural gas on the gas grip, helping to cut emissions in areas considered more difficult to decarbonise such as heating, transport, and industry.

It is produced through anaerobic digestion, a natural process where farm and food waste emissions are captured and converted into energy in a controlled environment.

This process can transform agricultural waste (such as slurries and manures) into energy, significantly reducing the country’s carbon footprint.  

With the agreement, Flogas will become the offtake partner for the renewable gas produced by three anaerobic digestion plants, the first plants in Nephin’s nationwide development pipeline.

The three plants will deliver over 250 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of biomethane annually, enough to heat over 33,000 homes.

The Ballinrobe facility will be the first to come on stream in 2027, with details of the two further plants to be announced later this year.

Once operational, the Ballinrone plant will process 90,000 tonnes of farm waster per year to generate over 85 GWh of biomethane as well as over 100 direct and indirect jobs.

“Today marks a major milestone for Nephin and a decisive first step toward our ambition of becoming Ireland’s leading biomethane development company,” said Tom O’Brien, group chief executive of Nephin Energy.

“Biomethane will play a central role in Ireland’s future energy mix, and we are proud to be driving growth in this sector.

“Partnering with Flogas, a recognised leader in sustainable energy, accelerates our development pipeline while unlocking the economic and environmental benefits that biomethane can deliver to rural communities across Ireland.” 

“This is the largest domestic biomethane agreement of its kind to date in Ireland, representing a significant boost for our agricultural sector and national net-zero progress,” said John Rooney, managing director of Flogas.

“This investment aligns with national energy policy, and we progressed it against the background of having the Renewable Heating Obligation (RHO) in place, which we welcome.

“This legislation needs to be enacted without delay. Our partnership demonstrates how industry leaders can work together to achieve national climate goals, paving the way for a sustainable and low-carbon future for Ireland.” 

This partnership, a first of its kind in Ireland, marks a major step in Ireland’s green gas transition, directly supporting the Government’s target to produce 5.7 TWh of biomethane by 2030. 

Nephin anticipates that the Ballinrobe plant will contribute up to €200m to the local economy over its lifetime, and that the three plants will generate hundreds of jobs in contracting, logistics, maintenance, mechanics, and support services, feedstock aggregation and biofertiliser recovery.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien said it was “fantastic to see two industry leaders join forces to drive meaningful growth in the biomethane sector and deliver economic and environmental benefits for rural communities.

“This is more than just an agreement; it’s a cornerstone deal that clearly demonstrates the immense growth potential within our green gas sector.

“Projects like this are vital for driving economic activity, creating rural jobs, and accelerating our transition away from fossil fuels. It’s a practical, tangible example of how innovation and collaboration can deliver real progress towards our climate goals.”

Photo: (l-r) Tom O’Brien, Group Chief Executive of Nephin Energy with Alan Dillon TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Donal Murphy, Chief Executive of DCC, Graeme Lochhead, MD of Nephin Renewable Gas and John Rooney, Managing Director Flogas Ireland. (Pic: Robbie Reynolds)