Offaly community group reiterates its commitment to ambitious Anaerobic Digester project

An image of how the proposed anaerobic digester might look

placeholder image — An image of how the proposed anaerobic digester might look

DURING the latest meeting of Birr 20|20 Vision, held in the Birr Council offices, the community group confirmed that they remain committed to their Anaerobic Digester project.

The members decided that they would remain committed to their reference/working group overseeing the AD project, which they hope to expand to include greater representation of the farming community.

“The reference group will explore the possibilities for AD in Offaly,” said Chairperson Denis Shine, “and hope to stimulate educational programmes on AD (through the agricultural colleges) as well as a greater awareness of its potential benefits both environmentally and in terms of job creation, should AD be developed with ancillary activities.”

The government wants to build 200 Anaerobic Digesters around Ireland by 2030.

However, many months have passed and only a few ADs have been built. Without State or private enterprise support an AD is too big an endeavour for most groups because it could cost €10 million to construct a single Digester.

Groups such as Birr 20:20 are hoping that the next government will turn into reality the commitment of the present government and row in strongly behind the scheme.

“In Birr 20:20,” said Denis, “we hope to see the development of educational programmes in Birr's LOETB and in Gurteen College in conjunction with the Anaerobic Digester project.”

“From the perspective of an organisation like Birr 20|20 Vision,” the community group says on its website, “whose concern is the welfare of the society for whose betterment it exists, Anaerobic Digestion is a process which will facilitate the farming community to achieve the goals set out for that sector in the Climate Action Plan of Government and which, in addition, has the capacity to support a significant number of jobs at very different skill levels if the range of Anaerobic Digester products and opportunities are fully developed locally. Nationwide Anaerobic Digestion so developed could well play a major role in sustaining the rural economy of Ireland.”

An Anaerobic Digester is a sealed, oxygen-free tank designed for the anaerobic digestion of sewage or other organic waste by microorganisms.

The Digester is typically used as a means of waste disposal or energy production.