Plans for massive Laois anaerobic digestion plant progressing

Bord Na Móna are progressing their plans for a massive anaerobic digester in Portlaoise that’s capable of taking 80,000 tonnes of feedstock annually. 

The Renewable Gas Facility at Cuil Na Móna on the outskirts of Portlaoise was approved by An Bord Pleanala in May of 2022 despite a local campaign of opposition. 

The Bord na Móna plant will operate at a 17 hectare, or around 42 acres site, at Cúil na Móna cutaway bog near Junction 18 off the M7 motorway in Portlaoise. In order to operate the plant, Bord na Móna will construct roadways and instal around 2.3km of gas pipeline. 

The project had been dubbed the ‘Bog super dump’ by local opponents, who objected to plans for the development. Their objections failed and the development was approved by An Bord Pleanala. 

Bord Na Móna is now looking to compile a shortlist of suitable engineering companies for the project. They issued a tender in relation to the project on February 12 this year. 

“Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified applicants interested in being considered as contractor for the provision of owner’s engineer services for the Cuil Na Móna Renewable Gas Facility Development. Bord Na Móna are to develop a Renewable Gas Facility for the production of Biomethane at Portlaoise, Co. Laois,” the tender states. 

The facility will accept up to 80,000 tonnes of biodegradable feedstock which will be processed into raw biogas and digestate. The raw biogas will be upgraded to biomethane and injected to the Gas Grid. 

The project requires the services of an owners engineer to develop the project through Procurement, Construction and Commissioning phases. It is envisaged that the five (5) highest-ranked suitably qualified Applicants (subject to the quality of applications received) will be shortlisted to proceed to the tender stage of the competition,” the tender states. 

A spokesperson for Bord na Móna was unable to provide a timeline for the construction and completion of the project. 

“Once constructed and operational, Bord na Móna’s Cúil na Móna Renewable Gas Facility in Co. Laois will process biodegradable feedstock to produce biomethane which will supply Ireland’s existing gas network - supporting future renewable energy supply to homes, businesses and other gas users across the country,” the spokesperson said. 

“In line with Bord na Móna’s ambition to support the achievement of Ireland’s renewable energy targets, the biomethane delivered by its Cúil na Móna facility will positively contribute to the national renewable biomethane target of 5.7 TWh by 2030 established in Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.”

“The proposed project will also produce a nutrient rich bio-fertiliser which can be used as a sustainable bio-fertiliser within the agricultural sector, reducing the need to use artificial fertilisers,” they explained. 

“Bord na Móna anticipates that the project development will generate up to 100 jobs at peak construction. Once operational there will be up to 10 long-term roles created across operations and maintenance,” the spokesperson concluded.