31-07-2025
IrBEA: Govt cannot leave liquid fuel imports to the EU
The publication of heads of bill for the proposed Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) has been welcomed by members of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA).
However, according to the IrBEA there are fundamental scheme design items which must be urgently clarified and confirmed to encourage investment in indigenous fuel production, and for the obligation scheme to achieve its stated objectives.
It claimed that Ireland is the worst performing member of the EU in the deployment of renewables in heating, and that RHO can provide an opportunity for the development of the solid biomass, bioliquid, and biogas/biomethane sectors.
The CEO of IrBEA, Seán Finan said that the publication of the RHO heads of bill is a welcome first step.
Finan outlined that on review of the heads of bill, members are concerned about some of the fundamental design items outlined in the document.
Among the concerns raised by members, is that the obligation rate is only set for the first two years.
IrBEA believes that this gives no ivestment certainty for renewable fuel producers, particularly the biomethane sector.
The long-term ambition of the obligation scheme must be confirmed now rather than in year three, as indicated.
IrBEA said that, at a minimum, the government must immediately publish the obligation rate for 2030, and the projected ambition beyond this.
According to IrBEA, the heads of bill do not outline how the government is going to meaningfully address the issue of fraud prone liquid biofuel imports from non-EU unsupervised supply chains fulfilling the obligation.
It claims that this fuel is having a "devastating impact" on indigenous biofuel production under the Renewable Transport Obligation Scheme (RTFO) and must be addressed in the RHO primary legislation.
Finally, concerns were raised that the additional renewable energy certificate for biomethane produced in the state is "inadequate" to create a level playing field for indigenously produced biomethane over imported renewable gas.
Finan said: "It is disappointing that the government has chosen not to meaningfully address the concerns raised regarding imports in the high-level design of the RHO.
"This item needs to be considered and urgently addressed in the drafting of the primary legislation for the RHO."
"The government cannot simply leave the liquid fuel imports issue in the hands of the EU, to address, but must take responsibility and implement its own measures and controls,' Finan added.
