Ireland
A high-level study of specific regional economic, environmental and technical parameters of the Represented Regions
Geographic description of the region
The Republic of Ireland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is a country in Western Europe that occupies most of the island of Ireland. It borders Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. The country covers an area of approximately 70,273 km². Ireland has a population of around 5.4 million people standing for approximately 1% of the European Union’s total population (EU27). The country is divided into 26 counties, and a significant proportion of the population, about 37%, resides in rural areas which emphasizes the importance of agriculture and rural development in the country’s socio-economic landscape (Population and migration estimates, 2023).
The capital city, Dublin, is the largest city, and other major cities include Cork, Limerick, Galway, and Waterford. Ireland’s landscape is characterised by rolling plains, rugged cliffs, and numerous lakes and rivers, contributing to its rich agricultural heritage and significant potential for agricultural and forestry biomass and residues.
Agriculture and forestry sectors in the region
Agricultural sector
In Ireland, the agricultural sector is a vital component of the economy, with numerous farms and agricultural holdings spread across the country. According to the latest data, there are approximately 139,000 agricultural exploitations (135,000 farms, 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture, and 2,000 food production and beverage enterprises) operating over an area of 4.5 million hectares of agricultural land. Of this total, 82.1% of the agricultural area is utilised for grassland. Conversely, the Irish forest area reached a coverage of 11.6% of the total land area amounting to a total 808,848 hectares (Coford, 2022; CSO, 2020; Department of Agriculture, 2024).
The average farm size in Ireland in 2022 was at 45 hectares with dairy farms being larger averaging 65 hectares and cattle rearing farms smaller at 33 hectares (Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022: Final Results. Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys, 2023). The distribution of farm sizes varies across the country and based on the farm type, with larger farms typically found in the south and midlands and smaller holdings more common in the west and north regions. The main agricultural activities in Ireland include dairy farming, livestock production, and the cultivation of crops such as barley, wheat, and potatoes. The Figure 42 below shows the evolution of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) over the years, and despite slight fluctuations the UAA overall has been around 4.5 million hectares since 2000.
The correlation between farm size and output in Ireland is evident, with smaller farms typically generating lower outputs and larger farms producing higher outputs. Specifically, 81% of farms with a Standard Output of less than 8,000€ were either less than 10 hectares or between 10-20 hectares. In contrast, farms with a Standard Output between8,000 € and 50,000€ were predominantly between 10 and 50 hectares. Moreover, over 60% of farms with a Standard Output greater than 50,000€ were either 50-100 hectares or over 100 hectares, indicating a strong positive correlation between larger farm sizes and higher agricultural output (Census of Agriculture 2020 – Detailed Results: Standard Output, 2021).
Over 50% of farms in the South-East region had a standard output of over 25,000€ in 2020. Kilkenny (34,525€) had the largest followed by Wexford (31,876€), Waterford (31,001€), Tipperary (26,701€) and Carlow (26,268€), while most of Northern and Western NUTS2 region counties had median standard outputs of less than 11,000€ in 2020 (Census of Agriculture 2020 – Detailed Results: Standard Output, 2021). Regarding the demographic composition of the farms, 33% of farm holders were aged 65 or older, while 7% of holders were aged under 35, and 13.4% of farm holders were female (Press Statement Census of Agriculture 2020, 2021).
The three main cereals (wheat, oats and barley) were produced at 2,013,000 tonnes in 2020, and the production of potatoes was at 300,000 tonnes in 2020 (Area, Yield and Production of Crops 2020, 2021). The Figure 43 below shows the crop production by type of crop from 2010 to 2020 in Ireland.
The Figure 44 illustrates the distribution of different types of farms in Ireland, highlighting that the majority of farms (54.9%) are engaged in Specialist Beef Production, while crop farms include almost 12% of total farms.
It should also be noted that grasslands and croplands comprised over 67% of Ireland’s terrestrial and transitional ecosystems in 2018, and grasslands supplied a total of 21.7 million tonnes of crops including grazed biomass in 2022 (Central Statistics Office, 2024b). The Figure 45 below depicts land utilization in Ireland from 1991 to 2020 and as it can be seen grassland has constantly had the major proportion in comparison to grazing, cereals and cropland.
Livestock sector
As mentioned above, over half (74,159) of farms’ main activity in Ireland is specialist beef production, followed by specialist sheep farms (17,435) and specialist dairying farms (15,319). The total number of sheep in Ireland in 2023 was 5,674,400, the total number of cattle was 7,341,500 and the total number of pigs was 1,661,300. The total area under crops and pasture was 3,368,500 ha with mid-west region having the highest area (602,600 ha) followed by south-west region with 564,700 ha (Central Statistics Office, 2024a). According to Teagasc, cattle rearing farms’ average income was 8,324 €, cattle other farms were at 18,554€, sheep farms were at 16,324€ in 2022 (Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022: Final Results. Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys, 2023).
The figure below illustrates the distribution of the total cattle and sheep across different regions in Ireland in 2023. The Mid-West and South-West regions have the highest number of cattle while West region, followed by Border region, have the highest sheep populations.
Recent data show that county Cork contains the greatest number of cattle and dairy cows (Central Statistics Office, 2024a). The national farm survey of 2022 also show that average dairy farm income was at 148,598€ which is indicative of the fact that dairy farms are particularly prominent as the most profitable agricultural activity in Ireland with 59% of the total farm income (Teagasc National Farm Survey 2022: Final Results. Agricultural Economics and Farm Surveys, 2023). The domestic milk intake was 947 million litres in April 2024 with butter production at 29,300 tonnes and skimmed milk powder production at 14,500 tonnes (Central Statistics Office, 2024a). Total Meat supply was at 1.48 M tonnes with 1.19 M tonnes of total slaughtering of which beef and veal accounted for 621,000 tonnes, pig meat 333,000 tonnes, poultry meat 171,000 tonnes and sheep meat 68,000 tonnes in 2022. Also, poultry meat is the only meat that Ireland is not self-sufficient in (Central Statistics Office, 2024c).
Forestry sector
Forests in Ireland cover 808,848 ha or 11.6% of the total land area, and 70% of the forest trees are less than 30 years old. The forest estate in Ireland consists of 69.4% conifers (mainly Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, and Scots pine) and 30.6% broadleaves (including oak, beech, and ash). On the other hand, the extent of hedgerows and non-forest wooded land is estimated at 375,301 ha, with hedgerows forming a large part of the agricultural landscape that play a key role in providing shelter for animals and a habitat for biodiversity (Forest Statistics – Ireland 2023, 2023). Of the total forest area, 397,364 ha or 49.1% are publicly owned, primarily by Coillte, while the rest are privately owned. Leitrim is the county with the highest percentage of forest cover at 20.1%, followed by Wicklow at 18.5%, and Clare at 18%. The counties with the lowest forest cover are Louth (2.9%), Monaghan (4.6%), and Meath (5.9%) (Ireland’s Forests – Statistics 2023, 2023).
Ireland’s forestry sector produces a variety of outputs that significantly contribute to the national economy. The primary output is timber, with softwood timber being the predominant product due to the extensive planting of coniferous species. Softwood timber is widely used in construction, paper production, and various industrial applications. Hardwood timber, derived from broadleaf species, is less common but valued for high-quality furniture, flooring, and specialty products. In 2022, the total roundwood harvest (excluding firewood) was 4.14M m3, with the majority coming from private sector forests, highlighting the increasing role of private forestry in timber production. Additionally, the forestry sector generates pulpwood, which is essential for paper and paper products, and biomass, which supports renewable energy production and contributes to Ireland’s sustainable energy goals (Forest Statistics – Ireland 2023, 2023). The Figure below shows the range of products from roundwood removals with the majority being large sawlog, followed by pulpwood and small sawlog.
Non-timber forest products also play a significant role, with the production of Christmas trees primarily for the domestic market. The sector also contributes to forest recreation and eco-tourism, enhancing its economic value. The most recent figures estimated 29.1 million visits to Irish forests per annum, and values forest recreation at 179 M€ per annum. Furthermore, Ireland’s forestry sector (logging and manufacture of wood products) supports around 9,400 jobs directly and indirectly, demonstrating its importance for rural employment. Collectively, these outputs make the forestry sector a vital component of Ireland’s economy, generating substantial revenue and contributing significantly to exports. The forestry sector is also a significant contributor to carbon sequestration, playing a crucial role in Ireland’s climate action efforts by absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide. In 2021, Ireland’s forests removed 1.8 MtCO2 (Forest Statistics – Ireland 2023, 2023).
Table 1: Detailed information in Ireland
Location | Forestry area |
Ireland | 808,848 hectares |
Species | Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, scots pine, oak, beech, ash. |
Agroindustry
Ireland’s agri-food sector is the oldest and largest native exporting industry which spans the entire country and exports to more than 180 nations globally. Ireland’s agri-food exports were a record 19 B€ in 2022 with the dairy exports being the 8th largest exporter in the world. In 2022, it employed 164,900 individuals, accounting for 6.5% of the national workforce, across 135,000 farms, 2,000 fishing vessels and aquaculture sites, and approximately 2,000 food production and drink enterprises. The sector manages 4.5 million hectares of agricultural land and over 800,000 hectares of forestry, contributing to 9% of Ireland’s annual exports (Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2023, 2023).
The most prominent agroindustry in Ireland includes the dairy industry, which is the largest in terms of production value and export, renowned for its high-quality milk and dairy products. The beef industry is the second most important, known for its significant turnover and extensive exports. Additionally, Ireland has exported more than €1 billion in each of beef, butter, cheese and whiskey in 2022 (Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2023, 2023).
Economic Indicators
Ireland ranks as one of the top economies in Europe with a gross domestic product (GDP) of 504.6M€, contributing significantly to the EU total, and the GDP per capita at 94,320€ in 2023 (European Commission, 2024b). Meanwhile, the Irish GDP registered an annual growth of 9.4% in 2022, which was notably the highest in the EU27, and the gross national income (GNI) was 363.6 B€ and the GNI per capita was 52,688 € (Measuring Ireland’s Progress 2022: Economy, 2023). In Ireland, agriculture and food production play a crucial role in the economy and society, particularly for rural and coastal communities. In terms of its productive structure, the agri-food sector, measured by gross value added (GVA), accounted for 3.8% of the total GVA in 2022 with the share of primary agriculture at 1.5%, reflecting its role in the economy (Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2023, 2023). Further details on economic indicators are available in next table.
The bioeconomy includes industries involved in the conservation, utilization, processing, distribution, or consumption of biological resources from terrestrial and aquatic environments. It is linked with sectors like agriculture, horticulture, forestry, food processing, and organic waste management, as well as terrestrial and marine ecosystems, though for the purpose of this analysis only the three primary production sectors of agriculture, forestry and aquaculture have been taken into account. In Ireland, the bioeconomy’s value added reached 4 B€ across agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, with a total turnover of 10.9 B€ in 2021. The three sectors are important employers nationally and particularly in rural and coastal areas within the bioeconomy that employed 107,230 people in the same year (Lasarte-López, 2023).
Table 2: Economic indicators by region/country (European Commission, 2024b).
Region/Country | Population (M hab) | GDP (k M€) | GDP per capita (€) | GVA (M€) Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | Employment rate (%) | Employment by sector (%) Agriculture, forestry, and fishing |
Ireland | 5.27 | 504.62 | 94,320 | 4,430 | 79.1 | 4 |
Bioeconomy regulatory framework
Ireland has developed several policies, strategies, plans, and laws at both national and regional levels to support the bioeconomy and biomass valorisation. Project Ireland 2040 is the Irish government’s development plan which highlights the potential of the circular bioeconomy in promoting more efficient use of renewable resources, while supporting economic development and employment in rural Ireland. As part of Project 2040, the National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy published in 2018 and sets out a vision, common principles, strategic objectives, and an implementation framework to develop the bioeconomy across relevant sectors. According to the National Policy Statement, the key actions required to expand the bioeconomy include: 1) promoting greater coherence between the many sectors of the bioeconomy, 2) strengthening the development of promising bio-based products and growing the relevant markets for them, and 3) accessing funding available at EU level as well as leveraging private investment. Established following the National Policy Statement, Bioeconomy Implementation Group (BIG), with representatives from 11 Irish government departments and 8 state agencies, oversees the development of the bioeconomy, ensuring strategic development and investment in innovation and infrastructure (Bioeconomy policy, 2023; Ministers McConalogue and Ryan publish first National Bioeconomy Action Plan, 2023).
Further strategies and plans such as the Food Vision 2030, Climate Action Plan 2021, Our Rural Future 2021-2025, and Impact 2030 incorporate bioeconomy goals to achieve broader environmental and economic objectives. Also, the National Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025 outlines 33 actions across seven pillars, focusing on governance, research, innovation, agriculture, food, forestry, marine, and the circular economy. It aims to embed sustainable scientific practices and biobased innovation in various sectors, supporting farmers, foresters, and agri-food companies. This action plan considers the EU council’s conclusions on bioeconomy as well as FAO’s initiatives to promote a sustainable and circular bioeconomy. It also brings about an important perspective that Ireland and Northern Ireland, sharing similar climate and sustainability challenges, with the same agriculture, land use and marine activities possess significant potential synergies for collaboration (Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025, 2023; Bioeconomy policy, 2023).
Moreover, the 2023 Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative which is part of the EU Just Transition Fund for Ireland focuses on piloting and demonstrating bioeconomy projects within the Midlands region, which includes counties such as Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, and parts of Galway, Kildare, and Tipperary. The initiative aims to foster collaboration among local stakeholders, including SMEs, research organizations, and community groups, to transition bioeconomy innovations from research to practical applications (2023 Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative – EU Just Transition Fund, 2023). Likewise, the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster Southwest launched by Munster Technological University promotes the development and support of bioeconomy projects in the South-West region of Ireland. It focuses on fostering innovation and collaboration among local enterprises and research institutions to enhance the regional bioeconomy (University College Dublin, 2024). It is worth mentioning that the annual event Bioeconomy Ireland Week which involves multiple regional partners highlights regional bioeconomy activities and projects across Ireland and aims to raise awareness and showcase local bioeconomy initiatives, fostering regional development and collaboration (Jesko Zimmermann, 2023).
Biomass resource availability
Agricultural biomass
According to statistics of 2022, Ireland’s agricultural biomass mainly consists of cereals, straw, fodder crops, grass and other crop residues amounting to a total of 35.9 million tonnes (Material Flow Accounts 2022: Key findings, 2023). The Figure 48 below shows the main sources of biomass and their quantity in Ireland, and it can be seen that the major sources of biomass are grass at 18.4 million tonnes representing over 50% of the total biomass in agriculture and fodder crops at 12.1 million tonnes followed by cereals and straw.
The residual biomass may be put to further economic use such as for bedding material in livestock husbandry, as animal feed, for energy production, and as industrial raw material, though as suggested by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), has a good potential to be used for renewable energy production and therefore the agricultural feedstocks can be destined for the anaerobic digestion (AD) sector (Annual Review and Outlook for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 2023, 2023). AD is a process that converts organic material into biogas and digestate through microbial activity in the absence of oxygen (Teagasc, 2017). The resulting biogas can be used to generate electricity, heating and or fuel for transport and the digestate can be used as fertilizer and soil conditioner.
Livestock biomass
Given the number of livestock in Ireland and especially the bovine a high quantity of animal by-products can be expected of which manure is at over 84 million tonnes annually (Köninger, 2021), and as indicated by the environment protection agency of Ireland 90% of national ammonia emissions come from livestock manure. Based on the statistics of animal slaughters mentioned in previous sections and the carcass weight at approximately 55% of live weight for beef (Teagasc, 2022b), 76% for pig (Teagasc pig herd performance, 2017), 72% for chicken (Fernandes, 2013) and 50% for sheep (What is the ideal weight for a market lamb?, 2014), it can be estimated that about 508,000 tonnes of bovine meat residues, 68,000 tonnes of sheep meat residues, 105,000 tonnes of pig meat residues and 66,000 tonnes of poultry meat residues totalling to about 747,000 tonnes of animal meat residues were produced in 2022 in Ireland.
Manure, liquid or solid, is often applied to land as a fertilizer to enhance soil fertility and structure. National estimates indicate that 34% of aggregate slurry is from dairy cows, 23% from suckler cows, and 11-13% from younger cows. On average, about 50% of the slurry is applied to lands throughout the year. The data also show that 82% of cattle manure is stored as liquid slurry while 18% is stored as solid manure on farms where the slurry is mostly applied on lands through splash plate method (Buckley, 2023).
In order to prevent pollution of surface waters and ground water from agricultural sources, especially from manure application to lands, and to protect and improve water quality, Ireland has developed a program called Nitrate’s Action Programme (Department of Housing, 2020) under which there are 3 nitrate zones based on soil type, rainfall and growing season duration (Irish Farmers Association, 2023). Based on the nitrate zones specified in Ireland, there are three zones as zone A (southern and eastern counties), zone B (south-western and western counties), and zone C (counties bordering Northern Ireland). Regarding the distribution of cattle manure throughout Ireland, recent statistics show that annually the majority of slurry in zone A is from dairy cows at 44%, and in zone B and zone C from suckler cows at 29% and 34% respectively (Buckley, 2023). Figure 49 below depicts the map of Ireland divided based on the nitrate zones.
Agro-industrial biomass
As indicated in previous sections, the agri-food sector in Ireland encompasses about 2,000 food production and drink enterprises of which the dairy industry is a major player with an annual milk output of over 8 billion litres in 2023 (Central Statistics Office, 2024d), providing grounds for milk processing activities throughout the country including skimmed milk, butter and cheese production, and whey is the main by-product of the dairy processing sector with a potential to be turned into value-added products and according to statistics 80-190 million tonnes of salted and acid whey are generated annually in Ireland (Teagasc, 2024). Additionally, it was also mentioned that beef production is of considerable importance in Ireland’s economy producing high amounts of biomass as organic waste streams in slaughterhouses with a good potential for energy recovery (Ware, 2016).
Forestry biomass
Forestry biomass in Ireland plays a significant role in the country’s renewable energy sector. Biomass from forestry includes materials such as wood chips, logs, and residues from forest management activities where the main product is timber logs made of spruce tree stems consisting 60-75% of total tree volume while the remaining 25-40% residues (about 800,000 m3/year) including branches, stems and deformed trees are not utilized due to lack of large-scale demand in Irish market (Rai, 2023). Statistics of 2023 indicate that about 1.46 million m3 of roundwood and wood residues with an energy content of 10 million GJ were produced in Ireland, and it is forecasted that the wood biomass would reach an amount of 1.8 million m3 with an energy content of 12.5 million GJ by 2040 (Forest Statistics – Ireland 2023, 2023). In Ireland, forest residues are usually left on the forest floor after wood harvest which according to studies has ecological benefits like soil fertility and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystem (Titus et al., 2021-04-14), but there should be a balance between that and biomass utilization to avoid underutilization (Rai, 2023) of this bioresource. According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland 2018 report, 393 combined heat and power (CHP) units used natural gas and oil as primary fuel, producing up to 327 MWe, whereas only 3 CHP units used biomass including forest residues for heat and electricity generation in 2017, producing 5.5 MWe (Rai, 2023).
Marine biomass
It should also be noted that Ireland holds a considerable amount of marine and aquaculture biomass including wild fish catch, and aquatic plants/animals. In 2022, the aquaculture sector produced a total of 44,723 tonnes of aquaculture products, including salmon, oyster, mussel, shellfish, trout and seaweed spread over 292 production units. The relatively new segment of seaweed production was at 493 tonnes over 165 ha of inshore area in 2022 (Dennis, 2023). In the same year, a total of 267,202 tonnes (live weight) of fish were landed in Irish ports of which 156,943 tonnes were landings by Irish vessels and 110,259 tonnes were landings by foreign vessels (Central Statistics Office, 2023). Figure 50 below shows the locations of Irish ports with fish landings size in 2022, and according to the map it is evident that northwest, and southwest region ports have the highest number of fish landings in the country.
Management and logistics of biomass resources
Ireland’s biomass sector has significant potential, but logistical challenges such as transportation, storage, and supply chain coordination must be addressed to fully realize its benefits. Continued policy support, technological innovation, developing a suitable regulatory regime for the bioeconomy that would encourage private investment; and stimulating market demand for bioeconomy products are crucial for overcoming these barriers and ensuring the economic viability of biomass resources. As said, market prices for biomass resources affect the availability of the product, as the higher the price, the more resources can be viably grown, harvested and refined. In the case of forest residues, in addition of lack of significant market, due to the low quality and low density of forest residues there are challenges, e.g., difficulty of extraction and wide geographical distribution, in large-scale mobilization of such residues to CHP units. Furthermore, in light of the National Bioeconomy Statement there is an imminent need for developing more advanced conversion technologies beyond the conventional heat and power applications of forest residues (Rai, 2023).
Likewise, energy crops such as grass silage and oil seed rape are widely available, but they need a higher market price to make financial sense. On the other hand, organic waste resources such as municipality waste, waste wood and used cooking oil are typically available at a low or even negative cost for biomass fuel producers because it costs money to dispose of waste at landfills (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, 2024).
Bio-products target market
The Irish Bioeconomy Action Plan identifies agriculture, food, forestry and the marine as a key sector in bioeconomy with high potential for recirculation and upcycling of biobased materials (Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025, 2023). With respect to the role of agriculture sector in the Irish economy, as discussed in earlier sections, it is clear that agri-food sector is a key producer of biomass which has great potential for renewable energy production (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, 2024). Additionally, agricultural biomass can undergo digestion, extraction, fermentation, combustion and pyrolysis techniques resulting in building blocks, intermediates and end products for use in the food, chemicals, functional materials and fuel sector. Although, due to their calorific value as well as cost considerations the agricultural biomass is often valorised to food applications. Also, forestry biomass can be treated with extraction, combustion, pyrolysis, chipping and pelletizing techniques to valorise woody side streams into marketable products such as heat, electrical power, fertilizer, biochar, bio-oil and syngas (Hendriks, 2018). In light of this, the following section will review the current status of using biomass sources from Agri-forestry activities.
Bioenergy and biofuels sector
Figure 51 below illustrates the share of indigenous primary energy production in Ireland and it can be seen that biomass has a share of 8% equal to 2.92 TWh in energy production in 2022 in Ireland. It is worth noting that the use of biomass has mainly increased in the wood-processing industry (Energy in Ireland 2023, 2023).
Despite the low share of biogas at 0.9% in energy production in Ireland, there are many suitable feedstocks for biogas production from the agricultural sector, including energy crops, animal slurry and manures, as well as waste and by-products from agro-industries. As such, the potential for a biogas industry derives largely from the abundance of grassland, which can be used to grow feedstock for anaerobic digestion (AD), and the significant number of livestock and hence slurry that can be co-digested with grass and grass silage in the AD process. AD is a multi-step process whereby organic waste, and residues are converted into biogas by a group of microorganisms in an anaerobic environment. In Ireland, the AD sector is relatively underdeveloped despite its potential due to the abundance of grassland and cattle slurry, which can be used to provide feedstock for AD (Teagasc, 2022a).
- Biomass electricity generation
Regarding the potential for biomass to be used as a source of energy, the primary areas of focus are waste, industrial residues, and agricultural residues. In 2022, out of the total electricity generation of 33.6 TWh, only 3.9% came from biomass, which accounted for 11.2% of renewable energy (Biomethane energy report, 2023; IEA Bioenergy, 2021; Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), 2023).
- Biogas generation
According to latest statistics, there are 43 facilities in Ireland producing 580 GWh of biogas, in addition to the two biomethane facilities (Department of Agriculture and Communications, 2024). In 2022, a total of 0.32 TWh energy representing 0.9% of total domestic primary energy was produced by biogas of which 0.12 TWh was input to electricity generation yielding 0.06 TWh electricity for final consumption (Biomethane energy report, 2023). On the other hand, while biomethane production has been rolled-out over recent decades across Europe at significant scale, biomethane is at a nascent stage of development in Ireland. Biomethane deployment in Ireland has been limited to date, with only a handful of commercial scale AD plants developed and Ireland stands as one of the lowest biomethane producers in Europe with 487 GWh in 2021 which was increased to 580 GWh by mid-2024. A survey from 2022 reveal that approximately 176 prospective biomethane producers with a total annual production volume of 14.8 TWh (using mainly agricultural feedstock) can operate in Ireland (Biomethane energy report, 2023). Figure below depicts the survey results representing Ireland counties’ capacity of biomethane production and as it can be seen counties Cavan, Kildare and Cork have the most potential for up taking biomethane production at 2,791 GWh, 2,527 GWh and 1,442 GWh respectively.
- Combined heat and power (CHP) generation
CHP is the simultaneous generation of usable heat and electricity in a single process. The efficiency of a CHP plant can be 20-25% higher than the combined efficiency of heat-only boilers and conventional power stations. Meanwhile, the combustion of biomass including logs, wood pellets and wood briquettes accounted for about 1% of residential heat demand (Energy in Ireland 2023, 2023). Table 3 below shows the number of operational CHP units and their installed capacity by fuel in 2022. It is clear that biomass utilization for CHP generation in Ireland is at a low level with only 3 CHP plants with 6.6 MWe in operation.
Table 3: Number of operational CHP units and installed capacity by fuel, 2022 (Energy in Ireland 2023, 2023).
No. of units | Installed capacity (MWe) | |
Natural gas | 275 | 305.5 |
Solid fuels | 1 | 2.6 |
Biomass | 3 | 6.6 |
Oil fuels | 21 | 1.1 |
Biogas | 18 | 11.9 |
Total | 318 | 327.7 |
- Biofuels
Statistics of 2023 show that only 15% of feedstocks for biofuels were sourced from Ireland itself while the majority (51%) were from Europe followed by imports from China (20%). Also, 47% of all biofuels in the Irish market were produced from used cooking oil, 19% from category 1 tallow, and 14.5% from POME. It is also notable that the majority of the HVO in Ireland was produced from palm oil mill effluent. The 8 major biofuel producers and suppliers in Ireland include Green Biofuels Ireland (GBI), Agri Energy, Calor Teoranta, Carbery Food Ingredients, College Biofuels, Green Gas Generation, Green D Project Ireland, ElectroRoute Energy Trading (Byrne Ó Cléirigh, 2023).
Non-energetic applications of biomass
Ireland has several business models that convert biomass into bioproducts, which fall outside the sector of bioenergy. Some of these enterprises source their biomasses from outside Ireland. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that these enterprises contribute to the Irish bioeconomy. Marine biomasses appear to be the most prevalent among businesses engaged in biomass conversion, with a focus on the production of healthy animal feed, plant bio-stimulants, fertilisers, food supplements, cosmetics packaging and bait and pet food. The preferred feedstock for conversion in Ireland at present is agricultural biomass, which can be used to produce fertilisers, feed, plant, animal and human health products, insulation and biodegradable plastics. Finally, regarding wood biomasses, it is notable that a significant number of sawmills and wood-based products businesses exist in Ireland. However, only a few of these businesses make any mention of the utilisation of their waste materials, and only one business has as its focus on the conversion of wood wastes into valuable products. The following paragraphs provide details about the bioproducts manufactured through biomass processing for non-energy purposes in Ireland (Biomap, 2021).
- Biomaterials/biochemicals
There are several processors in Ireland that source, produce and market a range of biomaterials or biochemicals aimed for applications such as fertilizers, animal nutrition products, bio-stimulants and insulation materials. The utilized biomass sources include sea and terrestrial plants, dairy by-products, and cellulose-dense crops (cotton, straw, sawdust, hemp and corncob).
Grassland Agro has three industrial fertilizer plants in Limerick, Cork and Slane where they process seaweed and other plant extracts to produce biofertilizer and mineral blocks for animal health.
AgriChemWhey converts dairy by-products (whey) into lactic acid which can then be used to manufacture biodegradable plastic.
Sustainable Insulation Products manufactures insulation made of recycled cellulose from cotton, straw, sawdust, hemp and corncob as well as non-biomass resources like newspaper and cardboard.
BioAtlantis uses marine and terrestrial plants to manufacture products for plant, animal and human health specialized in stress reduction.
Corcoran converts a wide range of biomass sources into various biomaterials and biochemical such as food ingredients, animal feed, human nutrition products, raw materials for pharmaceutical and veterinary uses, polymers, cosmetics and insulation.
Arramara, Wild Irish Seaweeds, NutraMara, Brandon Bioscience, Ocean Harvest Technology, Bio marine and Algaran are companies specialized in harvesting and using seaweed to produce a range of pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical products to improve animal, crop and soil health as well as ingredients for cosmetic industries.
- Wood products
Some companies process wood residues and waste including deformed logs, wood chips, sawdust, bark, and shavings into products like moulded door skins and quality timbers. Masonite and Glennon Brothers are two such companies.
In conclusion, the Irish Bioeconomy Action Plan underscores the significant potential of biomass utilization across various sectors including agriculture, food, forestry, and marine as witnessed by diverse biomass sources available in the country especially agriculture biomass which can be converted into renewable energy through digestion, extraction, fermentation, combustion, and pyrolysis techniques. These processes yield valuable products such as biofuels, biochemicals, and organic fertilizers. While there are bioeconomic opportunities in Ireland that could be leveraged for valorisation, there is still considerable scope for improvement in this regard. The biogas and biomethane sector, though currently small, shows promise due to the abundance of grassland and livestock slurry suitable for anaerobic digestion. According to the national biomethane strategy published in May 2024, Ireland has a great potential for biomethane production in Europe and farmers as the key stakeholders can substantially contribute to the development of this sector in the country. In addition of the economic profits, the biomethane production has also the benefit of decarbonising Ireland’s energy system contributing to environmental sustainability. Also, biomass utilization in CHP generation is currently low, but the technology presents a significant opportunity for efficiency improvements. Biomass CHP plants could increase overall energy efficiency by 20-25% compared to conventional power stations. Lastly, the biofuel sector in Ireland relies heavily on imported feedstocks, with only 15% sourced domestically. However, there is room for growth, particularly in increasing the use of domestic feedstocks and expanding the production capacity.
In addition of energy applications, the biomass resources in Ireland are also used for producing biomaterials and biochemicals with applications ranging from animal and crop health improvement to human nutrition and cosmetics as well as industrial uses such as packaging and insulation materials. Despite all the advances, there is a need to enhance knowledge and awareness about the alternative uses of biomass and its potential applications across various value chains. Detailed analysis of biomass resources, potential applications, and market demand are crucial in further valorisation of the biomass resources available in Ireland especially for developing BBTs. Additionally, fostering a culture of innovation and technological adaptation is essential for the biomass sector’s growth and competitiveness. Investment in facilities and technologies for biomass conversion is necessary to unlock the sector’s full potential. And lastly, continued support through favourable policies and financial incentives is needed to encourage investment in biomass technologies and to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the sector.
R&D system associated with biomass valorization
Ireland hosts several research and development (R&D) groups dedicated to advancing the bioeconomy and biomass valorisation. These groups focus on various aspects of biomass utilization, including bioenergy, bioproducts, and sustainable practices. As an initiative by the Irish state, the Irish Bioeconomy Network is overseen by the Bioeconomy Implementation and Development Group through its co-chairing departments and secretariat. This network comprises prominent organizations, centres, clusters, and programs, including the SFI BiOrbic Bioeconomy Research Centre, Enterprise Ireland’s Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, the Circular Bioeconomy Cluster South-west, the Circular Bioeconomy Research Group, Shannon ABC, Teagasc, and the Marine Institute. Collectively, these organizations aim to foster engagement, increase awareness of the bioeconomy, and support its progress among a diverse array of stakeholders (Department of Agriculture, 2023).
Additionally, Bioeconomy Ireland Week is an annual event in October that aims to showcase and promote Ireland’s flourishing bioeconomy. This event, which involves various participants such as industry, communities, producers, researchers, and students, is organized by the Irish Bioeconomy Network around a central theme to raise awareness about the bioeconomy in Ireland. The Table 35 shows the list of key Irish Bioeconomy Network members with details of their main research activities.
Table 4: Key Irish Bioeconomy Network members (Department of Agriculture, 2023).
Main research areas and activities | Institution |
Research on separating and extracting valued compounds from renewable materials, converting them into novel bio-based products and processes | BiOrbic |
To support the conversion of Ireland’s natural land & sea resources to high-value products through design, financing and promotion | Irish Bioeconomy Foundation |
To develop and promote the circular bioeconomy using marine, agriculture and waste-to-value thematic areas | Circular Bioeconomy Cluster South-west |
Sustainable circular bioeconomy solutions | Cill Ulta (Northwest Bioeconomy Hub) |
Bioresource mapping, bio-based value chain development, biorefining, low carbon economy, new business models, education & outreach | Circular Bioeconomy Research Group |
Detection, identification, characterization and valorisation of bioresources | Shannon ABC |
Integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture and food industry and rural communities | Teagasc (Agriculture and Food Development Authority) |
Marine research, technology development and innovation | Marine Institute |
The Table 5 provides a list of universities and research centres in Ireland with the goal of developing bioeconomy innovation and technologies in the country.
Table 5: Irish universities and research centres working on bioeconomy (Bioeconomy Factsheet Ireland, 2018).
Institution | Research group/centre |
NUI Galway | Ryan Institute for Environment, Marine and Energy Research |
University College Cork (UCC) | Sustainable Energy Research Group |
University College Dublin (UCD) | Energy Research Group |
Dundalk Institute of Technology | Centre for Renewable Energy |
Institute of Technology Carlow | – |
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology | – |
Science Foundation Ireland, coordinated by UCD | BEACON Bioeconomy Research Centre |
Science Foundation Ireland, coordinated by UCC | MaREI Marine and Renewable Energy Research Centre |
Coordinated by the University of Limerick | Dairy Processing Technology Centre |
Also, “BioConnect Innovation Centre” led by Enterprise Ireland with the mission to engage with local and regional food businesses and agricultural producers, together with entrepreneurs and investors to drive the agri-food sector forward using biotechnology, and “Knowledge transfer Ireland” organization support bioeconomy network and enterprise in the country (Bioeconomy Factsheet Ireland, 2018).
Support and financing policies
According to Ireland’s Bioeconomy Action Plan 2023-2025, bioeconomy opportunities will be integrated into national research funding programs and support. Key financiers in Irish bioeconomy include Enterprise Ireland (EI), Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Western Development Commission (WDC), Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Teagasc, Údarás na Gaeltachta, InterTrade Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), European Investment Bank (EIB) and Accelerate Green (Bioeconomy Factsheet Ireland, 2018).
Among all, EI and SFI represent numerous funding schemes to enable businesses throughout Ireland to grow and play their role in bioeconomy. In addition of the equity investments and grants, EI also offers opportunities to connect with international research programs and further funding bodies as well as the possibility of commercialization of academic research and inventions through funds and industry collaboration. It is worth knowing that EI also offers grants for companies based on their stage of development i.e., start-up, high potential start-up, established SME and large company with specific funding ceilings.
There is a co-funded program by the Irish government and the EU Just Transition Fund named “Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative” which supports close collaboration between stakeholders in the bio-based value chain including SMEs, research bodies, universities, local authorities, primary producers, bioprocessing industries and consumer brands (2023 Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative – EU Just Transition Fund, 2023).
Also, the Shared Island Initiative awards grants for an All-Island Bioeconomy Demonstrator initiative to support the integration of biobased innovation in the agriculture and marine sectors across the island of Ireland. In light of this initiative, DAFM and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland have established the “Shared Island Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative Scheme” which will support bioeconomy piloting and demonstration actions across Ireland and Northern Ireland. This will enable stakeholders to enhance existing or establish new cross-border collaborations, and formulate initiatives for piloting and showcasing agriculture or marine-based bioeconomy activities on an all-island scale (Irish Bioeconomy Network, 2023).
The Table 6 identifies national funding opportunities to support bioeconomy research, demonstration and commercial initiatives in relation to upcycling of biobased materials in Ireland.
Table 6: Funding programmes for bioeconomy at national level (Irish Bioeconomy Network, 2023).
Programme | Funding organization | Type | Web |
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) | DAFM, managed by EI | Grant fund | |
Green Transition Fund | EI | Grant fund | |
Digitalisation Funds | |||
Lean Business Offer | |||
Exploring Innovation Grant | https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/exploring-innovation-grant | ||
Innovation Partnership Programme | https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/innovation-partnership-programme | ||
Innovation Voucher | Knowledge transfer fund | https://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/supports/innovation-voucher | |
| Local Enterprise Office |
|
|
Springboard+ | Higher Education Authority | (Bioeconomy) Education grant | |
Agri-Food Skillnet | Skillnet Ireland | Skills development fund | |
SFI ARC Hub Programme | SFI | Grant fund | |
SFI Industry RD&I Fellowship Programme | |||
SFI Discover Programme | |||
Co-Centre Programme | |||
SFI Spokes programme | |||
SFI Strategic Partnership Programme | |||
National Challenge Fund | |||
Industry Collaboration Fund | |||
SDG Challenge | SFI & Irish Aid | Grant fund | https://www.sfi.ie/funding/funding-calls/future-innovator-sdg/index.xml |
Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Processors Funding Schemes | EU’s European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund, co-funded by Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency (BIM) | Grant and investment funds | |
Marine Research Programme | Marine Institute | Grant fund | https://www.marine.ie/site-area/research-funding/marine-institute-funding/marine-institute-funding |
Climate Action Fund | Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications | Grant fund | https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/de5d3-climate-action-fund/ |
EPA Green Enterprise Scheme | EPA | Grant fund | https://www.epa.ie/our-services/research/epa–research-funding/ |
EPA Research Calls | |||
National Energy Research Funding Programme | SEAI | Grant fund | |
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat | |||
Rural Regeneration and Development fund | Department of Rural and Community Development | Grant fund | |
LEADER programme | |||
ClimAccelerator | EIT Climate-KIC | Acceleration | |
Accelerate Green programme | Bord na Móna, Resolve Partners, co-funded by EU | Executive Accelerator | |
EIC Accelerator | European Innovation Council (EIC) | Grants and investments | https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-funding-opportunities/eic-accelerator_en |
Hatch Fund | Hatch | Venture Capital | |
The Pearse Lyons Cultivator | AllTech | Acceleration | |
Yield Lab Europe | The Yield Lab | Venture Capital | |
New Frontiers programme | EI | Acceleration | |
NDRC | NDRC | Acceleration | |
IndieBio | SOSV | Acceleration | |
THRIVE | SVG Ventures | Acceleration |
In addition of the public funding mechanisms, there are commercial funding opportunities. The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) helps SMEs achieve their business plans by providing flexible and lower-cost funding. Some of specific funding schemes of SBCI include “Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme”, “Ukraine Credit Guarantee Scheme” (finance facilitation for SMEs and primary producers affected by conflict in Ukraine), “Invoice Financing”, and “Leasing and Hire Purchase”. Also, National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) offers “Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF)” and “Agri-Tech Fund” programs to support economic activity and employment in Ireland. Another investment provider is Resolve Partners that offers support to leaders in innovation, research and entrepreneurship. Commercial funding opportunities are also available by private financial institutions like the Allied Irish Banks through their dedicated Agri Advisor Team and farm development loans, and the Bank of Ireland supporting the Food and Drink Industry (Irish Bioeconomy Network, 2023).
Other relevant supports are available through the following organizations (Irish Bioeconomy Network, 2023):
- Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC): the lobby and business representative group in Ireland which provides information and support for businesses, and one of their tools is “climate action toolkit” providing the required information and practical guidance on how to develop an enduring climate action strategy;
- Nua na Mara (Marine Innovation Development Centre): dedicated to supporting the development of marine start-ups, early-stage companies, and existing businesses, with the mission to bridging the gap of innovation, research, and industry through commercialisation;
- Circuléire (The National Platform for Circular Manufacturing): a public-private partnership with the mission to demystify, derisk, and deliver circular business model innovation by unlocking the value that resides in an Irish circular economy;
- Irish Nutrient Sustainability Platform: founded on the principle that waste is a valuable resource of nutrients, energy and other high-value products. Its mission is to promote sustainable nutrient management on the island of Ireland in the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Agenda;
- Cré (Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland): a non-profit association of public and private organisations, dedicated to growing the biological treatment sector. Cré supports the production of high-quality outputs, assists the delivery of Government waste diversion and bioenergy targets, and promotes the creation of sustainable indigenous jobs;
- IrBEA (Irish Bioenergy Association): to promote the bioenergy industry and to develop this important sector on the island of Ireland through a self-governing association of voluntary members;
- CAP Network Ireland: to support the networking of a diverse range of stakeholders across the fields of agriculture, rural development and innovation. It is a partnership between Irish Rural Link, ERINN Innovation and MTU;
- Regional Assemblies: to accelerate and optimise effective regional development in Ireland through policy making based on ‘Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy’, optimising EU policy and funding instruments for regional/local development priorities and engaging with innovative research partnerships and regional based networks. The three regional assemblies are “the Northern and Western Regional Assembly”, “the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly”, and “the Southern Regional Assembly”.
Operational groups characterization
The latest indicate that 3,400 EIP-AGRI Operational Groups (OGs) have been funded since 2014 to 2023, and 6,600 projects are planned for 2023-2027 throughout EU. Out of that, 57 OGs have been funded until 2023 in Ireland, and Table 7 below shows the breakdown of these OGs revealing that the majority of OGs have been focused on areas related to biodiversity, farm management and community conservation (EIP-AGRI Operational Group Projects – Ireland). These OGs have been funded by DAFM under the Rural Development Program 2014-2020 which was extended to 2022.
Table 7: OGs breakdown in Ireland 2014-2023.
Type of OG | Quantity |
Themed | 2 |
Open call 1 and 2 | 21 |
Locally led farm and community biodiversity | 24 |
Farm health, safety and wellbeing | 8 |
Rewetting of farmed peatlands | 2 |
Total | 57 |
Based on the information provided by CAP network Ireland, the majority of OG projects in Ireland are about farm management and biodiversity while only 3 projects have worked on biomass valorisation with a BBT development which include “Small Biogas Demonstration Programme” performed from 2019 to 2022 in midlands and Midwest region with a total budget of 994,273 €, “Biomass to Biochar for Farm Bioeconomy” performed from 2018 to 2021 in Midwest region with a total budget of 998,377 €, and “Biorefinery Glas (Small-scale Farmer-led Green Biorefineries)” performed from 2019 to 2020 in southwest region with a total budget of 940,498 €. All three OGs identified have developed technologies for processing agricultural biomass, with outputs being biochar, biogas, and biomaterials such as protein, and fructo-oligosaccharides (EIP-AGRI Operational Group Projects – Ireland; EU CAP Network, 2024). Figure 53 below shows the total number of OGs launched in each year, including the proportion that focused on development of BBTs.
The Figure 54 shows the total budget of OGs projects over the analysis period. It can be seen that this follows a similar trend to the total number of projects funded. The OGs show a diverse funding range from as low as 46.5k€ to as high as 25M€, while the BBT OGs had a rather similar budget range of 977K€ on average.
Bio-based Technologies (BBT) developed by OGs
As it was mentioned in previous section, Ireland has had merely three OG projects focused on BBTs which all used green agricultural biomass or livestock waste as the feedstock to produce a range of bioproducts including biochar, biogas, animal feed and biochemicals. It is important to note that, due to novelty of these projects or commercial sensitivities, there is still not much details available about them. The following Table 8 summarizes details on the three BBT-focused OGs in Ireland.
The focus of these BBTs have been developing a farm-scale technology that can be utilized by primary producers to practice a circular economy initiative with benefits to both the environment and economy while diversifying their income sources. These BBTs have previously been practiced in a more industrial level (pyrolysis, AD and grass biorefinery) with established TRLs depending on their type (A review of pyrolysis technologies and feedstock: A blending approach for plastic and biomass towards optimum biochar yield, 2022/10/01) while in their OG form they are more of a small-scale technology with a potentially different TRL.
Table 8: OGs focused on BBT development in Ireland (EIP-AGRI Operational Group Projects – Ireland).
OG project | Technology description | Biomass target | TRL | Output(s) |
Biomass to Biochar for Farm Bioeconomy (2018-2021) | Mobile Pyrolysis Unit | Rushes, gorse, bracken, hazel, and forest residues | NA | Biochar |
Small Biogas Demonstration Programme (2019-2022) | Farm-scale biogas (AD) plant (microbial) | Farming waste (including livestock manure) | NA | Biogas |
Biorefinery Glas (Small-scale Farmer-led Green Biorefineries) (2019-2020) | Small-scale mobile grass biorefinery (physical-chemical) | Grass | 7 | Cattle fibre feed, Protein concentrate feed for monograstrics, High value prebiotic sugars, grass whey (fertilizer/bioenergy). |
Ireland has a great potential for utilising the agricultural, forestry and marine biomass especially regarding the availability of research and funding schemes in the country. The government has also prepared several actions plans in support of bioeconomy in the country that foresees great opportunities for bioeconomy development and offers funding mechanisms under European and national programs. Although the focus of OG projects in Ireland has mainly been on biodiversity and conservation of lands, several plans like National Bioeconomy Actions Plan and National Biomethane Strategy pinpoint the pivotal significance of developing research and technologies to utilize the available biomass resources in the country for a sustainable and prosperous future. The OG projects database shows that the number of BBTs developed around biomass sources in Ireland have been very limited and there is room for development of such technologies in the context of available biomass in the country.
Among all biomass categories, grass is the most abundant source which is currently mainly used for feeding purposes while experiences like the grass biorefinery demonstration have shown its potential for valorisation and producing biomaterials/biochemicals and improved feed and protein products for animals. Also, the abundance of livestock manure and slurry is another opportunity to develop technologies for efficient use of them to produce bioenergy or soil improvement products. The forestry sector has a lower biomass prospect but shows potential for utilization of forest residues for green energy solutions and or extracting biomaterials. Additionally, marine sector is a major contributor to biomass resources in Ireland which shows a good potential for developing technologies to utilise it in the bioeconomy.
In conclusion, Ireland stands in a good position to utilise and valorise its bioresources for bioeconomy development with agricultural, forestry and marine biomass holding a great potential for research and development of BBTs that can add value to overall economy. There is a good support environment available nationally and at European level which needs to be explored, but the capacity has not yet been fully used to date. With respect to the current biomass size and the available support both in terms of research facilities and funding programs, Ireland shows a green light to develop BBTs.
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