Tobermore Concrete, CemCor, Dale Farm and RSC Group form partnership to unleash 'net-zero innovation'

With the aid of Queens University Belfast and facilitated by Centre for Competitiveness / Smart Grid Ireland, the pilot project aims to unleash the net-zero innovation potential of the firms and achieve environmental, social and governance objectives.

The partnership between Tobermore Concrete, CemCor, Dale Farm and RSC Group was enabled by the Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE) at QUB.

In the study, researchers lead by Prof. David Rooney at Queen’s University determined that transforming farm livestock manure and grass silage into biomethane could help to meet a significant percentage of Northern Ireland’s energy demand.

For the four companies, the proposed innovative ‘waste-to-watts’ approach has the potential to promote: The adoption of low-carbon farming practices, the development of low-carbon agri-food products, decarbonised fuel for transport vehicles and decarbonised construction products.

The vision of the Mid-Ulster companies is ultimately to establish a full-scale plant that will produce enough biomethane, not just for their own use, but also for injection into the NI gas grid.

CASE director Martin Doherty, said: “This project is hugely exciting, with the prospect of being enormously significant in developing security of energy supply, slashing Northern Ireland’s carbon footprint and helping to significantly boost the circular economy.

"CASE staff and Prof. David Rooney have been developing the co-operative approach over the past year thanks to support from the Community Renewal Funded Accident project with stunning results.

"Put simply, there is no reason beyond habit and history, for Northern Ireland to need to import any fossil fuels whatsoever. This project in particular has the potential to be a massive game changer, indeed it could, if managed and delivered properly have the potential to significantly reduce the need for fossil fuels and hasten in an era of net zero.

"It’s an example of what NI companies can do when given the opportunity, and also of how CASE can positively influence and help to shape our renewable energy future.”

Dr. Paul Madden (CforC), stated that “this project is an excellent example of local place – based innovation supporting COP27 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals”.

Dr. James Young, explained: “The opportunity for these Mid Ulster companies to decarbonise is immense by focusing on the processing of agricultural manures to recover energy and nutrients such as phosphate to provide decarbonised fuel, goods and services.”

David Henderson, managing director of Tobermore, added: “We are excited that this project will significantly reduce our need for carbon fuels and help us move to a greener and more sustainable future”.