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 The RGFI wants to outline the benefits and value for the Irish Tax payer and Exchequer Funds in supporting the biogas industry by including biomethane with meaningful levels of financial supports and allocation of budget within the proposed RHI for Ireland. Minister Naughten announced the intentions of DCCAE in supporting a semi state body as a single market entity for solid biomass , while refusing to engage with the biogas industry that has 700,000 consumers that will ensure fair competition

Intended results The RGFI intention is to high light the value for money to the Exchequer/Irish Tax payer. The biogas industry is a highly regulated industry, where the solid biomass industry is unregulated. The benefits of a regulated industry to DCCAE is that the biomethane production, quality,qualities net GHG emissions savings and mitigation measures are fully transparent and can deliver better value for money.The biogas industry is an indigenous industry, is a sustainable & competitive renewable gas.

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)

Met with Kevin Brady, Principle Officer of newly established Heat & Transport Policy Section in DCCAE. The RGFI outlined that the biogas industry is highly regulated under the Gas Act 1976, where there are set standards for transparency of production, quality and quantities of gas, that will apply to biomethane production. The benefits for DCCAE of biomethane being a regulated activity is that actual GHG emission savings can be 100% accounted for in the production of biomethane, delivering value for money to the Exchequer/Tax payer. The proposed Green Gas Certification Scheme will provide confidence and auditable accounts of biomethane production, that can be used by Government Departments towards national targets,assessing value for money and ability to deliver results. The biogas industry has wider economic benefits such as securing future investment by FDI's into Ireland, all FDI have a CSR Policy of being Carbon Neutral by 2030 or before. The RGFI is an advocacy for large gas users

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)