Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its bioenergy infrastructure fund, has teamed up with Atlas Renewables and Energex Partners to invest in biogas plants across Ireland.
CIP’s CI Advanced Bioenergy Fund I (CI ABF I) and the two partners have formed Greengate Biogas, a partnership created to develop, construct and operate manure-fuelled biogas plants.
CIP said manure will be the predominant feedstock – and will be sourced in close collaboration with over 2,000 livestock farmers across the country.
“By implementing anaerobic digestion for improved manure management, Greengate Biogas will also help reduce emissions from the agricultural sector and address nitrate challenges,” it added.
Once fully operational, Greengate Biogas will deliver nearly 1.8TWh of biomethane annually across projects, contributing 3.5% to Ireland’s current natural gas demand and achieving 30% of the country’s 2030 biomethane target outlined in a recently released biomethane strategy.
The projects will inject biomethane into the grid and recirculate organic fertilisers to farmers contributing to Ireland’s circular economy and green transition.
Andreas F Brandt, partner at CIP, said: “We are excited to enter the Irish bioenergy industry with Greengate Biogas which will make a significant contribution to the green transition, as well as creating local jobs and investments across the agricultural and rural economies.
“Ireland is a key market for CIP, and alongside our existing interests in offshore wind and solar power, we look forward to seeing the growth in biogas make significant contributions to renewable energy production, CO2 abatement and water quality management. We look forward to progressing the projects with our local development team and in collaboration with Irish farmers, local authorities and other stakeholders.”
CI ABF I, a mid-cap green fuel strategy, is backed by Nordic pension funds PensionDanmark, Industriens Pension, AP2 and AP4 as well as Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas.
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