Feasibility Study on Anaerobic Digestion and the Circular Economy, Lanesboro-Ballyleague

Tender description

Longford County Council has secured funding under the Just Transition process for an investigation into the feasibility of establishing Anaerobic Digestion and associated circular economic activities in the Lanesborough area. Initial consultation with key stakeholders and emerging policy from the Lanesborough-Ballyleague economic and enterprise strategy process, along with the consideration of existing and proposed projects in the area have informed the scope of this tender. The focus of the study will be in the context of Just Transition, which provides for a socially, economically and environmentally equitable transition to a low carbon society and informs the following requirements at a high level: • Support the development of local employment and economic activity and inform future developments to be supported under the Just Transition Fund, with an emphasis on climate action. • Align with BnM and ESB decommissioning and rehabilitation obligations under planning and IPCC licenses, specifically in the areas of potential for increasing biodiversity, access and awareness of natural heritage (as per National Biodiversity Plan and County Development Plan objectives). • Highlight the relationship between the industrial peatlands, transport, settlement and economic patterns in the area and the potential for decarbonisation of these elements in tandem with increasing climate action/environmental awareness to the wider public. • The policy context, including publication of the National Climate Action Plan in 2019 and the obligations that it places on Local Authorities in terms of adaptation and mitigation measures, bearing in mind the history of power generation in the area, existing infrastructure and the large landbank zoned for renewable energy adjacent to the existing power station and proposed new GIS sub-station. Consider and incorporate the wider policy context