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A ��ɫ��Ƶ academic is set to lead a major new project funded under the inaugural Research Ireland – Gas Networks Ireland Innovation Challenge, it has been announced.

The €2.6 million challenge will support five research teams across Ireland working on renewable gas production, energy‑system integration, and intelligent gas‑network technologies. The goal is to accelerate practical, scalable innovations that can help meet Ireland’s future clean‑energy needs through strong collaboration between academic researchers and industry experts.

One of the funded projects, BIOGRID, will be led by Professor Vivek Ranade of UL’s Department of Chemical Sciences and the Bernal Institute, alongside Dr Recep Dereli of University College Dublin as a collaborator.

BIOGRID is an ambitious new research and innovation initiative focused on developing sustainable, scalable technologies to convert Ireland’s biogenic waste into grid‑compliant biomethane. The project will combine anaerobic digestion with ex‑situ biomethanation powered by renewable hydrogen.

By targeting biogenic waste streams, including agricultural residues, food‑processing sludges and surplus silage, the project aims to help unlock significant untapped biomethane potential. In doing so, BIOGRID will address several key challenges in Ireland’s clean‑energy transition, including:

• meeting the national biomethane production targets
• making better use of surplus renewable electricity
• delivering clean, local energy solutions for rural and agricultural communities

Commenting on the award, Professor Ranade said:

“We are delighted to receive this support, which will allow our team to advance innovative technologies for Ireland’s clean‑energy future. BIOGRID brings together cutting‑edge research in anaerobic digestion, biomethanation, and process intensification to create practical, scalable solutions for rural and agricultural communities. This project is about enabling Ireland to harness its own biogenic resources sustainably, reduce emissions, and strengthen energy security. We look forward to working with our partners to translate these ideas into real‑world impact.”

A defining feature of the Innovation Challenge is its emphasis on close, ongoing collaboration with Gas Networks Ireland. Each project team will work with a dedicated industry liaison, ensuring that new technologies are developed, tested and validated with real‑world deployment in mind.