About Carbon AMS

AD is the conversion of organic materials by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen into biogas and digestate. It is a natural process that takes place in a series of sealed and airtight tanks ensuring there are no odours associated with the plant. The biogas is then cleaned and upgraded to biomethane which can be used as a renewable replacement for fossil fuels, such as natural gas, in homes, industry and transport. This entire process is natural, with all inputs and outputs recycled, leaving no waste. The first anaerobic digestion plant was built in 1859 and the technology has advanced steadily since then. Today the technology enables countries such as Denmark to replace 34% of their natural gas consumption with biomethane, with an ambition to replace 100% by 2030.

Biogas is a mixture of methane, CO2 and small quantities of other gases produced by anaerobic digestion of organic matter in an oxygen-free environment. The precise composition of biogas depends on the type of feedstock and the production pathway. The methane content of biogas typically ranges from 49% to 56% by volume, with most of the remainder being CO2.

Biomethane (also known as “renewable natural gas”) is a near-pure source of methane produced by “upgrading” biogas in a process that removes any CO2 and other contaminants present in the biogas. Biomethane is indistinguishable from natural gas and can be used without the need for any changes in transmission and distribution infrastructure or end-user equipment and is fully compatible for use in natural gas vehicles. 

Biomethane will play a key role in reducing emissions across some of the most important sectors of the economy including heating, industry, transport, and power generation, while also supporting the decarbonisation of the agri-food sector. This renewable energy is structurally identical to natural gas and can be used in the same way through the existing infrastructure such as boilers and other appliances. This means homeowners and businesses will be able to transition to this sustainable energy source and play their part in progressing Ireland towards a cleaner energy future, without changing a thing. To be introduced into the gas network, this biogas must meet the quality standards as required by Gas Networks Ireland. 

Most people primarily know carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. It is true that CO2 harms our environment when it is released into the air, but carbon dioxide also has many different applications across a wide range of industries. At Carbon AMS, we capture this CO2 from the air and use it. Carbon dioxide is used in the Food and Beverage industries for carbonating drinks like beer, soft drinks and wine. Carbon dioxide can carry energy as a refrigerant. Solid CO2, better known as dry ice, keeps food products cold while they are being transported.

All Carbon AMS facilities only utilise locally produced agricultural derived feedstocks such as multi-species grass silage, wholecrop arable crops as well as farmyard manure and animal slurry from local farms. The feedstocks used to produce the biomethane are carefully managed by the experienced team at Carbon AMS. We have created the Bio-nutrient ecosystem, which utilises a pioneering range of practices and technologies to develop renewable biomethane and organic fertiliser to enhance rural economies. Carbon AMS engage with farmers and guide them through the process, enabling them to generate sustainable feedstock for the plant while simultaneously reducing their need for expensive chemical fertilisers.

The renewable biomethane and CO2 we produce comply with the RED II and RED III standards to certify it as green renewable biofuel. The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is the legal framework for the development of clean energy across all sectors of the EU economy, supporting cooperation between EU countries towards this goal.
The RED defines a series of sustainability and GHG emission saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels and lays down rules on financial support to enhance renewable energy usage. There must be a greenhouse gas saving of over 65% by using this fuel as a replacement for its fossil fuel comparative. This standard tracks the greenhouse gas produced in the full life cycle of the product from cultivation, harvest, processing and transport of the raw materials and product.
At Carbon AMS, we aim to use new technologies to monitor the flow of energy and nutrients in our system to produce fully traceable feedstocks, biomethane, CO2 and digestate to offer our customers the best value product on the market.

At Carbon AMS, we pride ourselves on operating our facilities using best practice to eliminate any issues in terms of odour or noise. Following this best practice, we operate 22 AD facilities without complaints or issues. The biology inside our digesters only works when there is an absence of oxygen. Our whole process must be done in sealed air-tight digestion tanks because of this. The solid feedstocks we use are stored in buildings. Liquid feedstocks are stored in covered tanks and our biofertiliser is applied using the latest low emission technology available.

Noisy equipment is housed in sound-proofed buildings to reduce noise pollution around the site. This is important for the health and safety of our staff as well as local residents and businesses.