Alexion, part of AstraZeneca Rare Disease, will supply 100% of heating needs at its Dublin and Athlone sites using biomethane, becoming the first pharmaceutical company in Ireland to fully adopt this renewable energy source for research, development, and manufacturing.

The transition is enabled through a 15-year agreement with Carbon AMS, a leading biomethane producer, and forms part of AstraZeneca’s Ambition Zero Carbon decarbonisation programme. The contract is the first large-scale biomethane deal in Ireland with “additionality,” creating new renewable capacity for the national gas grid.

Biomethane will be produced at a purpose-built anaerobic digestion plant in Duleek, Co. Meath, 30 km from Dublin and 120 km from Athlone. The facility uses grass silage supplied under long-term contracts with local farmers. 

Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, supplying at least 32 GWh per year to Alexion, equating to 6.3% of AstraZeneca’s global gas consumption and displacing roughly 5,800 tonnes of CO2 annually. Nutrient-rich by-products will return to farmland, improving soil health and supporting sustainable agriculture.

Minister for Transport and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, highlighted that Alexion’s biomethane initiative contributes to the National Biomethane Strategy and supports Ireland’s decarbonisation and energy independence targets.

Shane Doyle, Senior Vice President, Global Operations and Sustainability at Alexion, said the transition will reduce operational emissions and pioneer renewable energy use in the pharmaceutical sector.

Richard Kennedy, CEO of Carbon AMS, described the agreement as a “game-changer” for the Irish agri-biomethane sector, providing reliable clean heat and supporting local agriculture.

Explore how Alexion is enhancing operational efficiency through sustainable energy adoption in the full story.