Major award won by Kildare Co Council

Photo: (L – R) – Gerard Lawlor, Head of Public Sector, Vodafone Ireland, Mary Morrissey, Climate Action Officer, Kildare County Council.  Professor Tim McCarthy, Maynooth University, Marian Higgins, Director of Services, Kildare County Council, Professor Rowan Fealy, Maynooth University.

Kildare County Council was awarded the outstanding contribution to Planet Earth award at the third annual Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards. 

The ‘Grass-to-Gas’ project which was delivered in collaboration with Maynooth University was recognised for its innovation and excellence in the design and delivery of sustainable products or services, supported by technology, that can help tackle the environmental challenges faced by society today.

The aim of the ‘Grass-to-Gas’ experiment was to harness the principles of the Circular Economy and transform waste municipal grass cuttings into biomethane, a valuable, carbon-neutral fuel through the process of anaerobic digestion. 

The first phase of the innovation demonstrated that 18.3 tonnes of waste grass produced 1844m3 of biomethane which in diesel equivalent was enough to fuel a family SUV for 16 months. 

The second phase of the innovation sought to scale the project to county level. The result was the creation of the Grass to Gas dashboard which enhances decision-making by providing data-driven insights into biomethane production while ensuring the protection of biodiversity. This includes aligning grass collection strategies with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.

The Grass to Gas Project delivers measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits. 

Annette Aspell, Deputy Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said; “We are honoured to be recognised by the Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards for our work in collaboration with Maynooth University on the development of The Grass to Gas Dashboard.

These awards are a testament to the dedication, creativity and innovation of the team involved and the strong partnerships we have built with Maynooth University.

Our sincere congratulations to all winners and commended projects at this year’s event who are all doing phenomenal work in the area of digital transformation across the public sector.”

Welcoming the award, Prof Rowan Fealy and Prof Tim McCarthy of Maynooth University’s Terrain-AI Research Group said:  “We collaborated closely with the team at Kildare County Council to develop a prototype Digital Decision Support Platform for biomethane production that demonstrates how local authorities can better manage their estates in a more sustainable and eco-friendly manner. This collaborative project shows how local authorities and researchers can work together in researching and developing innovative, sustainable solutions to address climate change challenges."

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