In this instalment of our energy innovation series, we turn to Ireland’s farming communities, where rising fuel costs, energy poverty, and limited access to clean alternatives are putting rural livelihoods under strain. Despite their vital role in Ireland’s economy and food system, many farmers face mounting pressure to reduce emissions while keeping operations viable.
A Renewable Resource Beneath Our Feet
Biogas and biomethane, derived from organic waste like slurry, silage, and crop residues, offers renewable options for heating, transport, and electricity generation. It’s particularly well-suited to rural Ireland, where agricultural by-products are abundant and grid access can be limited. Yet despite its promise, bioenergy has struggled to gain traction. The BioEInsights project programme is tackling this challenge head-on, identifying where bioenergy is already in use, pinpointing barriers to wider adoption, and mapping out the best locations for future installations based on sustainability and economic impact.
BioEInsights was awarded €375k by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Research Development and Demonstration fund, and is led by Tyndall National Institute in collaboration with the School of Applied Social Sciences Studies at University College Cork.
Budget Constraints and Rural Energy Gaps
Budget 2026 delivered €2.3 billion in support for the agri-food sector, including funding for TB control, tillage, and nitrates derogation. However, many farmers say the budget offered stability, not momentum, with few new gains for energy resilience or infrastructure.
BioEnsights will gather qualitative and quantitative data from across the entire sector to identify optimal locations for deployment of biogas production ensuring that Ireland’s clean energy transition reaches every corner of the country, including the fields and farms that feed it and robustly considers the viewpoints of all stakeholders involved.
Dr Siobhan O’Sullivan, School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork:
This innovative project that brings together energy engineers and social scientists, will help to ensure that bioenergy is informed by the values, concerns and expectations of stakeholders. This inter-disciplinary working reflects a shared commitment across the IERC, Tyndall and UCC to tackling the climate crisis in environmentally and socially sustainable ways.
Coming Up: Smarter, Greener Rentals
Next week, the series turns to Ireland’s rented buildings, where the Polinreb project is exploring how landlords and tenants can overcome the split‑incentive barrier and adopt models that make energy‑efficient upgrades the norm across the rental sector.
