Carnaross AD plant could help farmers ‘diversify’ into renewables

An anaerobic digestion (AD) plant planned for Carnaross in Co. Meath could deliver an “exciting opportunity” for farmers to diversify into renewable energy, according to the project promoter, Pat Smith.

Meath County Council gave the project the green light last year and Curragh Biogas Ltd is now in the driving seat to develop a new 50GW biomethane plant at Carnaross.

Smith, who is director of Curragh Biogas Ltd and managing director of Local Power Limited, today (Monday, November 11) said farmers could “earn a sustainable long term income” from growing crops and grass silage for the plant.

He has also suggested that farmers could benefit by “lowering their fertiliser costs with the organic fertiliser produced as a digestate by-product of biomethane production from the new plant”.

According to Smith the project’s technology partner is the Austrian company headquartered company, Biogest, which has completed over 200 biogas plant projects, generating electricity and biomethane worldwide