Alexion, part of AstraZeneca Rare Disease, will become the first pharmaceutical company in Ireland to fully meet its heating needs with renewable energy, sourcing 100% of its requirements from biomethane. The transition will cover its Dublin and Athlone operations and is being implemented through a 15-year partnership with biomethane producer Carbon AMS as part of AstraZeneca’s Ambition Zero Carbon decarbonisation programme.

The biomethane will come from a purpose-built anaerobic digestion facility in Duleek, Co. Meath, using grass silage supplied under long-term contracts with local farmers.

Construction is expected to be completed in 2026, with the plant supplying at least 32GWh of biomethane annually, equivalent to 6.3% of AstraZeneca’s global gas consumption. The move will displace roughly 5,800 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions each year. By-products from the process will be returned to farmland, improving soil health and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers, creating a circular economy benefit.

Officials highlighted the project as a major step for Ireland’s National Biomethane Strategy, promoting energy independence, sustainable agriculture, and meeting decarbonisation goals.

Alexion executives emphasised the move as a pioneering initiative in renewable energy use for the pharmaceutical sector, reflecting long-term environmental commitment and support for Ireland’s emerging biomethane market. Carbon AMS described the partnership as a transformative milestone for domestic renewable gas production.

The initiative follows AstraZeneca’s global investments in clean heat across sites in the US, UK, and China, reinforcing the company’s strategy to scale renewable energy solutions and reduce operational emissions worldwide.

Learn more about how Alexion is pioneering renewable energy in Ireland’s pharmaceutical sector.