Farm Zero C — Bandon, Co. Cork

Farm Zero C: Building Ireland's Blueprint for Climate-Neutral Dairy Farming

The Farm Zero C project at Shinagh Farm, Bandon, Co. Cork, is the most ambitious climate-neutral farming demonstration initiative in Ireland — and one of the most closely watched in Europe. Premier Green Energy is a named industry partner in this project, working alongside Carbery Group, University College Dublin, Munster Technological University, BiOrbic, Barryroe Cooperative, and Teagasc.

The goal is clear: demonstrate that commercially viable, climate-neutral dairy farming is achievable — and provide a replicable model that Irish and European farmers can actually adopt.

The Challenge

Irish dairy farming accounts for a significant share of the country's agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. The sector faces intensifying pressure from the EU's Farm to Fork Strategy, the Irish Climate Action Plan, and consumer and retail sustainability requirements. Yet farmers have limited practical guidance on how to reach climate neutrality without compromising productivity or profitability.

The Farm Zero C project at Shinagh was established to close that gap — measuring real emissions, testing real interventions, and proving what's actually achievable on a working dairy farm.

The Solution

Shinagh Farm is operated as a live demonstration site with continuous greenhouse gas measurement and targeted emission-reduction interventions. Since the project began, on-farm GHG emissions have been cut by more than 17% through measures including renewable energy adoption, clover and multi-species swards, and protected urea application.

The next phase — launching in 2026 — will integrate a demonstration-scale green biorefinery and anaerobic digestion facility on site, funded by a €3 million investment from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This facility will:

• Process freshly harvested grass into protein concentrate, cattle feed fibre, and prebiotics
• Convert farm organic waste into biomethane via anaerobic digestion
• Return digestate to the farm as a biobased fertiliser substitute, reducing synthetic fertiliser use
• Demonstrate the potential for new income streams from biorefining and renewable energy

Results to Date

• On-farm GHG emissions reduced by over 17% since monitoring began
• €3 million DAFM investment secured for AD and biorefinery infrastructure
• €2 million Science Foundation Ireland funding received under the Zero Emissions Challenge
• Grass protein concentrate shown to have up to 5x lower climate impact than imported soybean meal
• Demonstration-scale facility on track for 2026 commissioning

What This Means for the Agri-Food Sector

For dairy farmers and agri-food businesses, the Farm Zero C model offers a practical, evidence-based pathway to carbon neutrality. By integrating biorefinery and AD technology into existing farm operations, producers can simultaneously reduce emissions, cut input costs, and generate new revenue from waste and biomass streams. PGE can help you explore what this model could look like for your site.

About Premier Green Energy

Premier Green Energy (PGE) is an Irish waste-to-energy company specialising in the design, build, and operation of pyrolysis and biorefinery systems. PGE's patented PRIMA 3000 system converts industrial and commercial waste into syngas, carbon char, and recovered heat — creating circular economy value for clients across manufacturing, healthcare, and agri-food sectors.