New synthetic fuel facility for Cootehill

The green light has been given to develop a new synthetic fuel research facility near Cootehill.

Cavan County Council has granted planning permission to Galetech Energy Developments Ltd for the project with 25 conditions.

The plant will focus on manufacturing and testing synthetic versions of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel. It's intended to produce 100 tonnes of e-fuel in its first year, scaling up to 286 tonnes annually.

The facility will be powered by renewable energy from the nearby Mountain Lodge Wind Farm and aims to validate small-scale e-fuel production using green hydrogen. These fuels, the company says, are fully compatible with existing engines and infrastructure, offering low-carbon alternatives for sectors that are difficult to electrify such as aviation, shipping, and heavy transport.

The containerised systems at Edrans will be housed in an agricultural-style shed designed to blend with the rural surroundings.

The production process will use wind-generated electricity to power an electrolyser that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen will then feed into a specialist unit to produce synthetic crude oil, which can be refined into traditional fuel substitutes.

The produced e-fuels will be stored on-site until transported to the Whitegate refinery in Cork for further processing.

Galetech say that any environmental risks have been addressed through robust containment and wastewater treatment systems to prevent leaks and spills.

There were no public objections lodged with Cavan County Council as part of the planning process.