I recently attended the Energy in Agriculture Event, held in County Tipperary, Ireland.  

During the event, it was expected that an announcement regarding the introduction of the Renewable Heat Incentive would be made. Denis Naughten , the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, said that he would be taking the scheme to the cabinet within the next couple of weeks, before it can go to the European Commission for State Aid Approval.  The new scheme can’t come soon enough, for many farmers as well as Ireland’s renewable energy targets, although there is still a degree of uncertainty that is preventing many in the industry from investing in the relevant technologies until the scheme rules and rates are clarified.

Regardless, the event, held at Gurteen Agricultural College, was a great success with a higher turnout than in the inaugural event the previous year. There were a number of speakers presenting throughout the day; including Kevin Lindegaard from Crops for Energy who, in partnership with us, created the Sustainable Fuel Register, discussed Sustainability Criteria for Biomass Heat from a UK perspective. Meanwhile, I gave a talk about energy efficiency in dairy farms, both of which can be found here.