County Council has rejected a planning application for an Anaerobic Digestor Facility

Tipperary County Council has rejected a planning application for an Anaerobic Digestor Facility in Ballynilard, just south of Tipperary town.

A local farmer worked with Nephin Renewable Gas to send in their application on January 19. By the February 22 deadline, the community had made its views clear: out of 168 submissions, 163 were from local residents. The Council said the application was invalid after the landowner took back their permission to use the land. Officials also said there was insufficient information on traffic and transport, missing details in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report about the daily release of 71,000 litres of wastewater into the River Arra, and no plan for what would happen when the plant closed. Both the submission fees and the applicant’s fees will be refunded.

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Looking ahead, the Council explained what any future application must cover: checking other potential locations, addressing environmental issues, and ensuring the River Arra remains safe. The planned wastewater release would have used up most of the river’s ability to handle ammonia and ortho-phosphate, which, along with other local releases, was not acceptable. Future plans must also receive a clear answer from Gas Networks Ireland on connecting to the gas line and provide more details on where the crop-based materials will come from and what types they are.

The Ballynilard Bio Gas Concern Group expressed gratitude to everyone who submitted feedback, crediting their collective effort for the careful scrutiny of the application. Meanwhile, Nephin Renewable Gas, headquartered in Tipperary town, continues to pursue its ambition of leading Ireland’s biomethane sector by producing clean, renewable gas.