Minister McConalogue announces first Biomethane Capital Grant letters have issued
- Published on: 20 September 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., today confirmed that letters of offer under the 2024 Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme have started issuing to approved applicants.
Making the announcement, the Minister said:
“I am pleased to announce that letters of offer have started to issue to successful applicants of the scheme. It is very positive to see the high level of interest in the scheme which demonstrates real confidence and readiness to invest in the development of this indigenous industry.”
The minister added:
“Since the publication of the Biomethane Strategy in May of this year, I opened a call for expressions of interest, immediately followed by the opening of this capital grant scheme for full applications. All applications have now been evaluated with letters of offer being issued imminently. I recognised that the industry needs capital support to be kick-started and I am delighted to be able to deliver this €40m in funding support commitment. I am keen to see the industry grow and as a result provide opportunities and benefits to the agriculture sector”.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, through the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform secured €40 million in funding, intended to help support the initial development of biomethane in Ireland. The government approved the inclusion of a biomethane section, upscaling a biomethane industry in Ireland, within Ireland’s REPowerEU chapter. The chapter sets out that DAFM is to receive funding of €40 million for a capital grant scheme for biomethane production plants. As this funding must operate to a tight timeframe, priority will be given to projects that can commence immediately with the necessary planning approvals.
ENDS
Notes
This scheme is intended to assist with the development of the Biomethane sector by providing a grant to aid capital investment for the construction of plants, including upgrades to existing biogas plants, as well as the development of new plants.
20% of total capital investment costs per applicant will be payable to successful projects subject to a maximum level of funding of €5 million per project.
Letters of offer have started to issue to successful applicants under the 2024 Biomethane Capital Grant Scheme and will continue to issue over the coming weeks.
DAFM have partnered with SEAI to oversee the administration of the grant to ensure efficient delivery of the scheme. Applicants who receive a letter of offer and wish to accept the grant offer, must reply to the SEAI within 14 days of receipt of the letter of offer that they receive.
Applicants with any queries can email biomethanepilot@seai.ie
NRRP
The National Recovery and Resilience Plan has been developed by the government so that Ireland can access funding under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. Ireland is expected to receive €988 million in grants under the Facility.
The Recovery and Resilience Facility is the largest component of NextGenerationEU, the European Union’s response to the global pandemic. The aim is to help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the pandemic and to prepare for a post-COVID Europe that is greener, more digital, more resilient and fit to face the future.