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Biomethane Strategy

  • 02-02-2024 11:12pm
    #1
    WhichWay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 57 ✭✭


    Government have published this biomethane strategy consultation. Closes 27 Feb for comments.

    https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/9b170-consultation-on-the-draft-national-biomethane-strategy/

    There seems to be a lot of questionable assumptions.

    Consultants think 'bad' beef farmers can grow 14t per acre like the 'good' dairy guys. This will ensure biomethane does not compete with food under RED3 directive. I'd like to see them try to get 4 cuts of red clover off my ground. More likly the government back scheme will drive the tillage off the best land. Farmers will not be able to compete when energy comes into the equation.

    Strange statements about decarbonisation of agriculture, but I believe the opposite would be true. Producing the same food on less land will need more chemical fertaliser.

    Mentioned carbon sequestration into the soil when it would be more a kin to nutrient mining.

    The digestate obviously would need to go back to the farms but they claim it can replace chemical fertaliser in other farming enterprises. Sounds like double counting.

    Jobs. More jobs. Only if you are a truck driver. More likly to have absentee land lords buying up every acre backed by a 15 year government contract.

    Oh and it will cost 200% or 300% more than gas, citizens will have to foot the bill. Actually this is my least concern. I'm happy to play my part and more.

    Maybe farmers love the idea, I am yet to be convinced.



Comments

  • #2
    Birdnuts
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,808 ✭✭✭Birdnuts


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058334435/biomethane-strategy

    I agree with you on alot of that - using grass silage to feed such plants is a greenwash con, in the same way alot of biofuels are like HVO which the EU are currently investigating for fraud as it appears alot of it is simply Palm Oil grow via mass rainforest destruction in SE Asia. Despite that clown Eamon Ryan wants more of it in our fuel mix🙄

    https://friendsoftheearth.uk/sustainable-living/4-reasons-biofuels-arent-answer-climate-change


    There is also the issue of significant methane leakage from such plants and ground water contamination



  • #3
    WhichWay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 57 ✭✭WhichWay


    Good article. Thank you. I agree it would result in emissions increasing in other locations and rainforest destruction.

    The government plan is 5.7TWh, 10% of current gas.

    Based on Teagasc demonstration unit. It'll require silage from 133,000ha, approximately 100% of farm land in County Meath. Plus winter slurry from 1.9million cows. At 2LU/ha that is another 950,000ha ( 100% of agricultural land in Cork, Tipperary).


    If the slurry has to leave the farm its unlikely you'll get 2LU/ha. Perhaps we could import soya from a South American rain forest to produce the slurry?



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