Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Lobbying Organisation Renewable Gas Forum-Irish Green Gas Limited

Date published 21 Sep, 2017

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 May, 2017 to 31 Aug, 2017

Specific Details Met with Mr Kevin Brady, Principle Officer of newly established Heat & Transport Policy Section, to discuss the inclusion of Biomethane in the proposed RHI that Minister Naughten is due to make a discussion on shortly. There appears to be a clear bias towards solid biomass with the announcement by Minister Naughten at the Energy in Agriculture event on the 22nd August 2017 and favoring a semi state body as the single market participant while refusing to engage with the biogas industry.

Intended results The RGFI wants biomethane to have recognition as a renewable energy, a meaningful level of allocation of budget and financial supports. Biomenthane can provide the best value for money to the Irish tax payer with best use of Exchequer funds to a renewable energy technology, Biomethane from Anaerobic digestion that will deliver fully transparent results and develop an indigenous biogas industry in Ireland. The Green Gas Certification Scheme will provide transparency on the GHG savings achieved.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity PJ McCarthy, Chair of Renewable Gas Forum Ireland (RGFI)

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

The meeting with Kevin Brady, Principle Officer, Heat & Transport Policy Section, brought to his attention that the biogas/biomethane industry is a highly regulated business, where biomethane will come under the Gas Act Regulation. The advantages of this industry being regulated is that the DCCAE can be very confident that the biogas industry is fully accountable and transparent in all transactions of production, quality, quantities, as well as GHG emissions savings and mitigation. The added advantages for DCCAE is that the biogas industry can deliver value for money to the tax payer and Exchequer funds. The Green Gas Certification Scheme will further support this transparency and ability to deliver actual GHG savings, decarbonisation of energy, while backed up with 90% plus efficiency by autonomous end users. The biogas industry can develop an indigenous industry,provide additional jobs, secure future FDI inward investment & provide additional incomes for farmers.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Kevin Brady Head of Unit (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)