Leading Ireland’s transition to sustainable biomass

“Our transition to 100% sustainable biomass at Edenderry is a major step in advancing Ireland’s clean energy ambitions. SBP certification underpins this progress by ensuring our feedstocks are responsibly sourced, fully traceable, and aligned with evolving regulatory expectations.” Joseph Spollen, BnM Biomass Manager

Edenderry Power Plant in Co. Offaly, owned by BnM (formerly Bord na Móna), is one of Ireland’s most significant examples of large-scale energy transition, and a clear illustration of the company’s evolution from peat-based generation to renewable energy. Originally commissioned in 2000 as a 100% peat-fired power station, Edenderry has undergone a profound transformation over the years. Biomass co-firing began in 2008 with steadily increasing volumes, culminating in January 2024 when the plant became fully biomass fuelled. This marked the final step for BnM in its historic ‘brown to green’ transition, ending all peat-derived electricity generation and enabling the site to deliver 118MW of renewable baseload electricity to the Irish grid.

As Ireland’s largest renewable dispatchable power plant, Edenderry now has the capability to power approximately 150,000 homes, providing vital system support and energy security. The plant relies primarily on indigenously sourced biomass derived from forestry residues, sawmilling by-products, tree surgery material, agricultural residues, and fuelwood assortments. BnM works closely with domestic suppliers to maximise Irish sourcing, an approach strengthened through long-term agreements that secure substantial volumes of biomass over multiple years, helping to support Ireland’s shift to a low carbon economy.

Edenderry’s boiler employs bubbling fluidised bed (BFB) technology, providing high combustion efficiency and fuel flexibility. This allows the plant to utilise diverse residual materials. The thermal stability of the BFB system ensures reliable operation even with high moisture or low-flammability biomass, further widening the range of acceptable feedstocks.

SBP certification plays a central role in assuring sustainable sourcing for Edenderry’s supply base. With the revised EU Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII) requiring full compliance from May 2025, SBP’s assurance framework provides robust evidence that biomass used at the plant is legally sourced, sustainable, and deforestation-free. It also enhances traceability across the supply chain, enabling Edenderry to demonstrate robust GHG reporting and full accountability for the sustainability characteristics of the feedstock used. This is essential for an End‑user with significant year‑round biomass demand and a varied supply base, including materials such as Trees Outside Forest (TOF), which exemplify the breadth of feedstock types that must be carefully evaluated for sustainability and compliance.

Beyond biomass sourcing, Edenderry forms part of a broader BnM sustainability strategy. The company has already delivered a 51% year-on-year reduction in GHG emissions and generated more than 1.5TWh of renewable energy across its estate in 2024. Additional climate aligned projects are planned, including the conversion of the site’s backup distillate generator to natural gas, a measure expected to immediately reduce CO₂ emissions by 40%.

Edenderry demonstrates how SBP-certified biomass can support national climate goals, rural economic development, and circular resource use by valorising low grade residues that would otherwise decompose without energy recovery. As Ireland accelerates toward its 2030 renewable energy targets and net zero by 2050, Edenderry stands as a flagship example of sustainable, dispatchable renewable power enabled by robust certification, regulatory compliance, and collaboration across Ireland’s forestry and bioenergy sectors.